PARIS — German defence company Diehl Defence and maritime technology firm Flanq have unveiled their Q-Strike unmanned surface vessel (USV) at the Euronaval 2026 exhibition in Paris, held from November 3 to 6. The platform is designed to detect and engage aerial drone threats at sea.
Q-Strike is jointly developed using Flanq's Q-Recon 24 autonomous surface vessel, adapted for counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (C-UAV) operations. The exhibition featured a scale model equipped with 36 vertical launch cells for Diehl's Cicada interceptor drones, which are reported to engage aerial targets at ranges of up to 12 kilometres.
The displayed configuration also included a 7.62 mm M134 minigun, four fixed surveillance radars, an additional radar on the sensor mast and two electro-optical systems for target tracking, navigation and situational awareness.
Q-Strike Based on Q-Recon 24 Platform
The Q-Strike uses Flanq's Q-Recon 24, originally developed for intelligence gathering, maritime security, anti-submarine warfare and force protection.
The base vessel measures 7.3 metres in length, reaches a maximum speed of 90 km/h and has an operational range of up to 3,000 nautical miles. Its payload capacity is up to 2,000 kg.
The modular platform features a central moonpool for deploying and recovering underwater sensors, while its deck supports UAV launch and recovery. Its open architecture and autonomous control suite allow operators to change mission equipment according to operational requirements.
Diehl Defence and Flanq Partnership
The project follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed on September 23, 2026, covering cooperation in autonomous maritime systems.
Under the agreement, Flanq contributes its expertise in hull development, autonomous control software and modular unmanned platforms, while Diehl Defence provides its experience in defence systems and interceptor technologies.
The partnership aims to combine these capabilities to develop autonomous maritime platforms. A first demonstrator was targeted for 2026.
Development Status
The Q-Strike model displayed at Euronaval represents the first public presentation of the concept following the September agreement.
The companies have indicated that the vessel could be offered in several configurations. However, its final weapons configuration, full operational capabilities and technical specifications have not been confirmed. Pricing and delivery timelines have also not been announced.
The Q-Strike combines an autonomous maritime platform with Diehl's Cicada interceptor technology to provide a potential naval counter-drone capability.
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