Naval Group Secures Contract to Develop Uncrewed Combat Underwater Vehicle for French Navy

Defense News ,France :- Naval Group, a leading naval defense company, has recently inked a comprehensive contract aimed at designing, manufacturing, and testing a prototype of an Uncrewed Combat Underwater Vehicle (UCUV) for the French Navy.

The contractual framework builds upon a previous agreement awarded to Naval Group last year, which focused on the initial conceptualization phase of the underwater drone. As part of this latest development, the company has also entered into a subsequent 24-month contract that outlines the detailed development of Naval Group's Autonomous Decision-Making Process—a cutting-edge drone management system.

Further contracts are on the horizon, with a specific emphasis on pioneering technologies required to enhance the UCUV's capabilities, such as extending its endurance and refining its underwater detection capabilities, along with the implementation of sub-order advancements.

A pivotal element of this initiative is the XL-UUV demonstrator, a notable underwater drone project by Naval Group. This existing project will play a crucial role in the UCUV program, acting as a foundation for technology integration and rigorous testing.

Aurore Neuschwander, Director of Naval Group's Drones, Autonomous Systems, and Underwater Weapons division, expressed optimism about leveraging the company's accumulated expertise in naval unmanned systems. Specifically, the XL-UUV demonstrator, launched in 2020 and revealed in 2021, has already undergone sea qualification trials, showcasing its autonomy and seamless interoperability with the navy's manned vessels.