Paris, France – France has signed an agreement with Naval Group to develop an Unmanned Combat Underwater Vehicle (UCUV) demonstrator for the French Navy. The agreement was signed on November 3, 2026, during the Euronaval 2026 exhibition by the French Armament General Directorate (DGA), the Defence Innovation Agency (AID) and Naval Group.
The UCUV programme, launched in 2023, aims to give the French Navy its first extra-large unmanned underwater vehicle (XL-UUV) capability. The project has now moved from technology development and testing to the construction of a dedicated demonstrator. Its first sea trials are scheduled to begin in 2028.
UCUV Designed for Multiple Naval Missions
The UCUV will be a multipurpose underwater platform designed for long-duration missions. It will support intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), as well as more offensive missions involving neutralisation operations.
The vehicle is also required to be air-transportable and deployable from a port or surface vessel. Its endurance and autonomous operation will be key capabilities for missions across maritime areas where continuous communication with operators may not be possible.
Steeris OB Provides Autonomous Control
The demonstrator will use Naval Group’s Steeris OB autonomous decision-making system, which acts as its onboard intelligence system.
Operating under human operator supervision, Steeris OB will allow the underwater drone to conduct extended missions without continuous remote control. It will analyse its surroundings and tactical situation, adjust its behaviour and replan missions when conditions change.
The system is also designed to operate independently or cooperate with other crewed and autonomous platforms, particularly in underwater environments where communications are limited or unavailable.
Development and 2028 Sea Trials
The programme builds on Naval Group’s earlier research and development. In 2023, the company successfully tested its own XL-UUV demonstrator at sea. These tests helped evaluate important technologies, including autonomous navigation, mission endurance and specialised payload integration.
The new UCUV demonstrator will build on these results before entering its planned 2028 sea trials, which will validate its technologies and operational capabilities.
Naval Group also organises its autonomous naval systems into four product families: SEAQUEST for unmanned surface vehicles, SEAGENT for unmanned underwater vehicles, STEERIS for onboard intelligence and mission management, and SEALKEN for launch and recovery systems.
The French programme is part of a wider shift towards autonomous naval platforms, with the United States developing its Orca underwater vehicle and Australia working on its Ghost Shark programme.
France's 2026 defence budget allocated €30 million in commitment authorisations and €17 million in payment appropriations for an ocean-going underwater drone demonstrator. The wider 2024–2030 defence programming law also provides €5 billion for drones and robotics, including underwater systems.
The UCUV contract value and final technical specifications have not been publicly disclosed. The programme is intended to strengthen the French Navy's ability to conduct long-duration underwater missions and integrate autonomous systems alongside traditional naval forces.
——— End of Article ———
