German shipbuilder Fr. Fassmer GmbH & Co. KG and Singapore’s ST Engineering have formalized their collaboration in the unmanned maritime domain, signing a Teaming Agreement on June 3, 2025, aimed at the joint development of Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs). The agreement was publicly announced by Fassmer on June 17.
The agreement was signed by Harald Fassmer, representing the German family-owned shipyard, and Goh Ming Joo, General Manager of ST Engineering’s Unmanned & Integrated Systems (ST UIS) division. The signing marks a significant step in what both companies describe as a growing strategic partnership.
The two firms are not starting from scratch. Their collaboration had already yielded tangible results, with a joint contract award to demonstrate USV capabilities during the German Navy’s OPEX II exercise in 2025 — a real-world validation that appears to have laid the groundwork for this deeper, longer-term commitment.
The teaming agreement signals a convergence of European shipbuilding heritage and Asian defence technology expertise. Fassmer brings decades of naval and special-purpose vessel construction experience from its yards in Germany, while ST Engineering contributes advanced autonomy systems, sensors, and integration capabilities developed through its extensive defence electronics portfolio.
The partnership carries broader strategic relevance at a time when NATO navies are accelerating investment in unmanned maritime systems. USVs are increasingly seen as force multipliers — capable of performing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, mine countermeasures, and escort duties without putting personnel at risk. The German Navy’s interest in the OPEX II exercise reflects Berlin’s growing appetite for autonomous naval platforms as part of its wider defence modernisation drive.