PARIS, — April 16, 2026 : Exail has secured a contract to supply its long-range uncrewed surface vehicle (USV), the DriX H-9, to a leading defense research organization for counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) missions. The announcement was made on April 16, 2026.
Under the agreement, the DriX H-9 will be equipped by the customer with advanced sensor technologies to detect, track, and mitigate aerial threats. The system will adapt C-UAS technologies originally developed for land-based platforms to the maritime environment, enabling mobile and autonomous protection of coastal and open-water airspace.
This marks the second defense-focused DriX H-9 order within a few months. A previous order was placed in January 2026 by the innovation branch of a leading navy for similar C-UAS missions, while another unit was acquired by Service Hydrographique et Océanographique de la Marine (SHOM) for hydrographic operations. The platform has also been selected by a European client for offshore civil survey work. According to industry reporting, the recent C-UAS-related acquisitions are understood to be linked to the United States Navy, potentially through the Office of Naval Research or the Strategic Capabilities Office.
The DriX H-9 is part of Exail’s DriX Series of uncrewed surface vessels designed for multi-mission use across defense and commercial sectors, including hydrography, maritime security, and domain awareness. The platform combines long-range autonomy, high payload capacity, and a modular architecture that allows rapid integration of mission systems. Its customizable stern section supports additional payloads and remotely operated towed vehicle (ROTV) operations.
The vessel measures 9 meters in length with a displacement of 2.1 tonnes. It offers an endurance of up to 20 days depending on payload, a range of approximately 2,000 nautical miles, and a maximum speed of less than 13 knots. The fuel capacity is 550 litres.
The system operates using Exail’s CortiX autonomy solution, enabling remote control or supervised autonomous operations, including over-the-horizon missions. It incorporates obstacle avoidance capabilities using video cameras, infrared sensors, LiDAR, radar, and software-based processing. Communications are supported through a multi-channel redundant architecture, including line-of-sight and over-the-horizon links via 4G/5G, broadband radio, satellite, and other channels.
The DriX H-9 also supports low-noise payload operations for high-quality data collection and is designed to operate in high sea states above Sea State 5. According to the company, the platform operates with a significantly reduced environmental footprint compared to conventional crewed vessels.
Marine Slingue, President of Exail Defense Systems Inc., stated that the contract reflects the increasing role of uncrewed surface systems in defense applications and highlights the adaptation of the DriX Series to new mission profiles such as C-UAS.
The contract expands the operational role of the DriX H-9 in maritime security and domain awareness, as defense organizations continue integrating autonomous systems for tracking, mitigation, and data collection in maritime environments.
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