Mehler Protection unveils naval anti-drone system

Mehler Protection, a German company based in Fulda, introduced the SCILT Naval system at the SMM fair in Hamburg in late August 2026. This system is designed to protect naval vessels from small aerial drones and is a naval adaptation of the SCILT system previously unveiled in February 2026.

SCILT Naval features layered defense

The SCILT Naval system includes three levels of defense: detection, approach, and engagement. It uses electro-optical sensors and hunting caliber ammunition distributed around the ship to cover all areas. The system can be integrated with the ship’s combat system or operate independently.

Development and testing of SCILT Naval

The development of the SCILT Naval system took 18 months and included 48 test series. However, details such as the system's range, weight, potential customers, or deployment schedule have not been disclosed. No specific ship class has been designated for the system yet.

Quantum Systems presents naval drones in Portugal

Quantum Systems, a German military drone manufacturer, showcased two new naval drones, the Seavex and Subvex, during the Repmus 2026 NATO exercise in Sesimbra, Portugal, on 14 September 2026. These drones are designed for a variety of maritime operations.

Seavex and Subvex capabilities

The Seavex is a surface drone capable of operating at sea for up to two months and can launch and recover aerial and underwater drones. The Subvex is an underwater drone that can dive to 6,000 meters and remain on the seabed for weeks in passive listening mode. Both drones must now undergo sea trials.

Diehl Defence and FLANQ form partnership

Diehl Defence, a German missile manufacturer, and FLANQ, a young company specializing in AI-piloted naval drones, signed a memorandum of understanding on 25 September 2026. The collaboration focuses on developing drones for surveillance, mine countermeasures, and strike operations.

FLANQ and Diehl combine expertise

FLANQ brings AI and data fusion capabilities, while Diehl contributes its missile technology and production expertise. The partnership aims to produce a demonstrator for the German Navy and for export by the end of 2026.

Belgium delivers mine-clearing drones to Ukraine

Belgium awarded a contract to Exail Robotics Belgium, a subsidiary of the French company Exail, for three Trident systems intended for Ukraine on 14 September 2026. These systems use a self-destructing underwater drone to detect and neutralize mines.

Trident system details

The Trident is a semi-rigid inflatable boat equipped with the K-STER C, a 1.5-meter-long underwater drone that can dive to 300 meters and operate for an hour. It is designed to detect and destroy mines in the water.

Saildrone registers drones under Danish flag

Saildrone, an American company that builds wind- and solar-powered surface drones, registered four of its Voyager drones under the Danish flag on 22 September 2026. This marks the first time a company's drone has obtained a national flag, following agreements with the Danish Maritime Authority.

Voyager drones operate in Danish waters

The drones are to be used in Danish territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone in the Baltic Sea for military operations. The move establishes new rules for drone registration and operation under national flags.

Ucandrone presents mine warfare drone

Ucandrone, a Greek drone manufacturer, presented the ARGO, a mine warfare surface drone, during the Uvex 1/26 exercise. The Greek navy tested the ARGO, which uses sonar and AI to detect mines and deploy small underwater drones to destroy them.

ARGO specifications

The ARGO is an 82 kg electric catamaran that can carry up to 105 kg of payload. It is equipped with multi-beam sonar, lidar, and artificial intelligence software to detect and neutralize mines in coastal waters.

WB Group launches StormRider 550

WB Group, a Polish company specializing in military drones and communications, introduced the StormRider 550 at the MSPO fair in Kielce in September 2026. This 5.5-meter-long drone is designed for patrol, reconnaissance, and strike operations in various maritime environments.

WB Group partners with Kongsberg

WB Electronics, a subsidiary of WB Group, signed an agreement with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace on 8 September 2026 to develop and produce naval drones for the Baltic Sea. The partnership combines Polish drone expertise with Kongsberg’s naval technology.

Oshen deploys acoustic drones in NATO exercise

Oshen, a British company specializing in autonomous sailing vessels, deployed six C-Star mini surface drones during the Repmus 2026 NATO exercise in Portugal. These drones are equipped with hydrophones and are used to form an acoustic surveillance network.

C-Star drones used in US exercises

Oshen also plans to send eight C-Star drones to California in October for the US Navy's Maritime Big Play exercise. These low-cost drones are designed to be deployed in large numbers to monitor underwater activity.

SubSea Craft enhances drone versatility

SubSea Craft, a British manufacturer based in Portsmouth, equipped its MARS surface drone with a modular compartment that can hold various payloads. The system allows for the rapid exchange of munitions, drones, or sensors during deployment.

MARS drone integrates ALTIUS munition

The MARS drone can carry an ALTIUS rogue munition from the American company Anduril without requiring modifications to the drone. This modular design increases the drone’s adaptability for different missions.

Royal Navy tests heavy torpedo from XLUUV

On 13 September 2026, the Royal Navy fired an American Mk 48 heavy torpedo from the Excalibur, a large underwater drone (XLUUV), off the coast of Scotland. This test was part of the Aukus partnership, a trilateral security agreement between the UK, the US, and Australia.

Excalibur drone details

The Excalibur is a 12-meter-long demonstrator built by MSubs, a British submersible manufacturer. It was delivered to the Royal Navy in May 2025 and is part of the Cetus project aimed at developing advanced underwater drones.

Russia builds drone shelters in Crimea

According to CyberBoroshno, a Ukrainian open-source intelligence group, Russia has constructed at least 21 covered shelters for surface drones on the southern shore of Lake Donuzlav in Crimea. Construction began in February 2026 and was largely completed by mid-March.

Russian naval camouflage

Russian forces have also camouflaged two small anti-submarine ships with building facades and other disguises. Other ships in the Baltic Fleet feature zebra patterns and improvised protection nets to deter drone attacks.

GhostFoiler completes first flight

Aston Harald Composite, a Swedish shipyard specializing in composite materials, completed the first flight of the GhostFoiler, a foil-based surface drone, in Stockholm at the end of August 2026. The drone is powered by electric motors and uses advanced foiling technology.

GhostFoiler's components

The GhostFoiler is a carbon fiber catamaran built with components from EvoloFoil, a company derived from research at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. The drone was intended to participate in the Repmus 2026 exercise with the Swedish team.