Sponsored by EOS
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03 Oct 25. UK sets IOC goal for submarine AUV launch and recovery capability. A torpedo tube launch and recovery (TTL&R) autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) system is planned to achieve initial operating capability (IOC) on UK Royal Navy (RN) Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs)during the 2026–27 financial year, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has disclosed. Known as Project Scylla, the TTL&R AUV capability will support AUKUS Pillar 2 objectives “by providing submarines with deployable autonomous vehicles capable of seabed warfare, intelligence operations, and covert surveillance missions”, the MoD said in a 1 October case study bulletin on anti-submarine warfare (ASW) testbeds funded through the ASW Spearhead programme. Trials of the TTL&R AUV technical solution have already been completed from an Astute-class boat. Project Scylla is intended to confer SSNs with the ability to launch and recover an AUV through a standard 533 mm torpedo tube while moving and submerged. “The vehicle is designed to be launched then autonomously conduct missions and recover itself back into a submarine torpedo tube, enhancing submarine capabilities without requiring platform modifications,” the MoD said. First at-sea testing of Project Scylla was performed from an unidentified Astute-class SSN in December 2024. A second set of tests – including successful TTL&R AUV launch and recovery operations – was undertaken from HMS Astute in May 2025 while the submarine was operating in the Mediterranean. Project Scylla, which is being delivered by the Submarine Delivery Agency’s Autonomy Unit in partnership with L3Harris, is using an Iver4 900 medium AUV. “[This] features a modular mid-section, which allows mission-specific payload configurations,” the MoD said. (Source: Janes)
02 Oct 25. Submarine Launched USVs from Gabler Break Surface at German Naval Industry Work. Gabler, a leading provider of submarine technologies, today unveiled concepts for their highly anticipated uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) designed for torpedo tube launch (TTL). The reveal took place on the opening day of 27th DWT Naval Workshop meeting being held in Dobbin-Linstow, Germany where Gabler also debuted its new brand identity. Gabler, known globally for its submarine masts, vessel components and tactical gateway products, announced earlier this summer its decision to enter the USV market with sub-surface deployed platforms configured for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations, as well as single-use tactical missions. Today’s announcement marks the next milestone in the company’s high tempo USV programme, alongside its strategic development partner, FLANQ, to deliver cutting-edge, autonomous systems for NATO and European naval forces. The two USV variants will be known as Ranger for ISR, and Raider for strike. Both are fully compatible with standard submarine torpedo tubes, and feature a common 4.5- metre long, 300 metre depth rated hull, folding mast and keel, electric drivetrain, and multiple payload bays. Ranger is reusable and equipped with a sensor suite providing real-time surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, crucial for naval forces operating in contested waters. Ranger will allow submarines to discreetly deploy and recover the USV without exposing themselves to risk, thus ensuring mission success while maintaining stealth and operational advantage. Raider, designed for single-use tactical missions can carry a user-supplied effector payload in its forward payload compartment, empowering naval forces to neutralise high-value targets without exposing themselves to direct threats. The partnership has accelerated its development timeline to bring these USVs to technology readiness level as swiftly as possible. Gabler and FLANQ are working closely with sovereign partners and European defence suppliers to ensure interoperability and seamless integration into existing naval systems.
“As we unveil these USVs at DWT 2025 – less than two months since our original announcement – our focus is clear: deliver uncrewed-first operational capabilities for European and NATO naval forces that are fast, flexible, and cost-effective,” said Lars Wischnewski, Director of Sales and Products at Gabler. “These platforms will shape the future of naval operations, providing unmatched versatility in complex and contested environments. Ranger and Raider also mark a new chapter for Gabler – reflected in our exciting and modern brand identity and tagline: We Dive Deeper.” (Source: ASD Network)
01 Oct 25. A Proven Partner in Pioneering Undersea Autonomy. Leading the way in naval undersea systems, L3Harris has achieved a series of historic “firsts” that are ready to scale for the fleet. L3Harris Technologies has firmly established itself as a leader in the advancement of autonomous systems, earning a reputation as a trusted partner to both the U.S. Navy and the U.K. Royal Navy. Through a series of historic “firsts,” L3Harris continues to set the standard for innovation, reliability and mission readiness in maritime operations: First company to launch and recover an unmanned underwater vehicle from an underway U.S. Navy submarine in January 2023: This groundbreaking capability, developed by L3Harris, revolutionized how autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are deployed and retrieved — enabling seamless operation in real-world maritime environments. First lithium-ion technology approved for submarine use by the U.S. Navy in November 2024: L3Harris was the first to integrate advanced lithium-ion battery systems into unmanned platforms, enhancing endurance, safety and energy efficiency. This milestone reflects the company’s proactive response to evolving power needs. First torpedo tube launch and recovery (TTL&R) technology with the U.K. Royal Navy in 2025: Extending its expertise globally, L3Harris successfully delivered the first TTL&R capability to the Royal Navy, further solidifying its position as a leader in autonomous systems and a trusted partner in international defense.
Pioneering Hybrid AUV Technology for Engagement Superiority
L3Harris’ Iver AUVs are redefining the standard for hybrid autonomous systems by merging the strengths of manned and unmanned capabilities. As outlined in the July 2025 article, these AUVs are engineered for engagement superiority in complex undersea environments. Equipped with modular payloads, advanced autonomy and integrated sensors, the Iver AUV provides unparalleled situational awareness and flexibility. This hybrid design supports seamless collaboration between operators and unmanned platforms—delivering consistent mission success, even in the most demanding conditions.
Capable of operating in both shallow coastal zones and deep-ocean theaters, the Iver AUVs showcase L3Harris’ practical understanding of real-world mission requirements. This adaptability is vital as the industry accelerates toward integrated and hybrid operational models.
Advancing Power Solutions with Lithium-Ion Technology
In November 2024, L3Harris achieved a major milestone with the delivery of unmanned systems powered by advanced lithium-ion battery technology. This breakthrough represents a significant leap forward in endurance, reliability and safety for autonomous platforms. Lithium-ion batteries offer superior energy density and longer operational life compared to traditional power sources, enabling AUVs to perform extended missions without compromising performance. The integration of lithium-ion technology into L3Harris’ unmanned systems reflects the company’s forward-thinking approach to addressing the evolving needs of its customers. By prioritizing energy efficiency, L3Harris is not only enhancing the capabilities of its platforms but also aligning with global trends toward more efficient technologies. This achievement further solidifies the company’s reputation as a leader in the development of next-generation autonomous systems.
Mastering the Challenge of Launch and Recovery
Launch and recovery remain some of the most complex operations in maritime robotics. In July 2023, L3Harris achieved a landmark success by launching and recovering an AUV from an underway U.S. Navy submarine — a feat never before accomplished. The success of this operation emphasizes L3Harris’ commitment to operational excellence and its deep understanding of the complexities involved in maritime missions. By mastering launch-and-recovery techniques, the company has addressed a key challenge faced by operators, further enhancing the usability and effectiveness of its AUV platforms.
A Legacy of Innovation, a Vision for What’s Next
The achievements outlined above are a testament to L3Harris’ unwavering dedication to innovation, reliability and customer mission success. From pioneering hybrid AUV technology to advancing power solutions and mastering operational challenges, the company has consistently demonstrated its ability to create and implement solutions that address the needs of today while anticipating the demands of tomorrow. As both a trusted partner and a proven leader, L3Harris is ready to scale this technology to enable the AUKUS submarine forces. Backed by a history of steadfast commitment to mission success, the company is well positioned to lead the future of autonomous maritime operations, bringing modular payloads in support of seabed and subsea warfare operations—not only as a top-tier defense contractor, but as a visionary force in global security. (Source: ASD Network)
01 Oct 25. UK retires Reaper as Protector takes on unmanned ISTAR and strike roles. The United Kingdom has officially retired its General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) MQ-9A Reaper unmanned aircraft system (UAS) from service, with the larger and more capable GA-ASI MQ-9B Protector RG1 now taking on its roles. Janes understands from sources that the withdrawal from service happened on 30 September, although the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had not offered official comment at the time of publication. The retirement of the last of the 10 Reapers that have been in service since 2007 marks the formal transfer of the Royal Air Force’s (RAF’s) unmanned intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) and strike roles to the 16 Protectors that are now being received into RAF Waddington in England. The Reaper retirement came weeks after the RAF disclosed earlier in September that it was preparing the Protector platform and its crews to take on the UK’s ongoing mission to counter the remnants of the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, known as Operation ‘Shader’. While the Reaper typically carried up to four Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface low-yield missiles and two RTX GBU-12 Paveway IV 500 lb precision-guided bombs on its five external hardpoints for a Middle East mission, the Protector will be able to carry more of the same on its nine hardpoints. It also carries the MBDA Brimstone 3A air-to-surface missile. (Source: Janes)
30 Sep 25. Windracers Earns UK’s First International Civil Drone Approval. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has has approved Windracers, a British civil and defence drone manufacturer, to conduct the UK’s first civil unmanned aerial system (UAS) international operation. Windracers has been given approval by the CAA and Luftfartstilsynet (Civil Aviation Authority Norway) to fly its dual-use heavy-lift drone, Windracers ULTRA, beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) from Tingwall Airport in the Shetlands to Haugesund Airport in Norway. This is the first time a long-distance drone has been approved to fly for civil purposes between UK airspace and the adjoining airspace of another state. The approval was enabled by the creation of temporary danger areas, providing a controlled corridor to facilitate the flight. The airspace will cover a distance of 378 kilometres (235 miles) from Shetland, over the North Sea, and across the Scottish/Polaris Flight Information Region (FIR) boundary into Norwegian airspace.
Simon Muderack, CEO at Windracers, said: “This airspace approval is a major landmark for both Windracers and the wider UAS sector, and shows how the UK and Norway CAAs are acting as enabling regulators supporting the future of aviation. Windracers ULTRA is already flying real-world missions today. We can now prove those capabilities across international airspace – opening new possibilities for how we connect remote communities and deliver essential services. Many assume the autonomous air cargo industry is still years away, something in the future. Windracers, with the support of the UK and Norway CAAs, is affirming that it is here today.”
The approval process focused on how current day regulations could be used and how best to overcome a range of challenges, including safety, liability, international obligations and environmental mitigations around the planned flight.
Jon Round, Head of Airspace, Air Traffic Management & Aerodrome Airspace at UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “Our airspace regulation team rose to the challenge by enabling an airspace change request through smart use of existing structures and regulatory processes. Innovation isn’t always about new technology or future frameworks – it can also mean reimagining how current systems can be applied. We’re proud to have helped make this possible, showing that we are an enabling regulator.”
Lars E. de Lange Kobberstad, Director General at Civil Aviation Authority of Norway, said: “Together with our British colleagues, we are facilitating technology that can strengthen preparedness, protect the environment and improve accessibility—while keeping safety as our top priority.”
At the heart of this milestone is Windracers ULTRA – a dual-use drone capable of transporting a useful load of up to 150 kg with a range of up to 1,000 km. Windracers ULTRA is multi-mission and offers an optional 3-door drop bay floor to safely and accurately parachute aid and supplies if required. (Source: UAS VISION)
29 Sep 25. Denmark: Temporary civilian drone ban will likely precede wider commercial drone disruption. On 28 September, the Danish authorities ordered a temporary ban on civilian drone flights ahead of two key European summits in the capital Copenhagen. The European Council will meet on 1 October to discuss defence and support for Ukraine, followed by a European Political Community summit on 2 October. The civilian drone ban runs from 29 September to 3 October, as part of broader security measures prompted by a wave of drone incursions targeting Danish airports and military sites since 22 September. The Danish authorities suspect a coordinated hybrid attack by a ‘professional’ drone operator aimed at critical national infrastructure (CNI). The drone suspension will disrupt operations for companies that use drones for deliveries and surveillance purposes, including in the construction, delivery and energy sectors. A report by the Danish radio broadcaster DR also indicates that there is uncertainty among certain businesses as to whether the ban applies to them. Several European countries have expressed support for Denmark’s anti-drone measures given the recent incursions and the upcoming summits in Copenhagen. (Source: Sibylline)
29 Sep 25. EDA, NATO Enable Real-World Testing of Unmanned Systems. The European Defence Agency (EDA), NATO and the Portuguese Navy co-organised the 15th Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping using Maritime Unmanned Systems (REPMUS), the world’s largest event for testing unmanned maritime systems, held off the coast of Portugal. Running from 1 to 26 September in the waters south of Lisbon, the Portuguese-led exercise brought together 24 nations and tested some 300 uncrewed platforms across sea, air, and land domains. It also marked the first time NATO’s military exercise ‘Dynamic Messenger’ was linked with REPMUS, combining operational training with experimental testing. REPMUS/Dynamic Messenger 25 gave both militaries and industry the chance to trial robotics and artificial intelligence in real-world scenarios, including electronic jamming and dummy underwater mines.
“This was an opportunity to experiment on unmanned vehicles across all domains and in a real environment,” said Captain Nuno Palmeiro Ribeiro, Director of the Portuguese Navy Operational Experimentation Centre (CEOM). “What’s special about this zone is that we can do experimentation that is not possible elsewhere.”
Swarms, standards
Scenarios included Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) in coastal zones, electronic warfare in GPS-denied environments, and amphibious landings supported by robotic scouts and logistics drones. One highlight saw multiple uncrewed aerial vehicles performing ‘swarm’ operations, demonstrating the ability to operate autonomously in coordinated missions. EDA, the EU agency tasked with strengthening defence cooperation among Member States, hosted seminars to highlight the importance of interoperability and ensuring allied and partner nations’ systems can work together. “Unmanned underwater vessels have different batteries, different chargers. We need to develop standards to improve interoperability and even interchangeability,” said Juergen Scraback, Head of EDA’s Maritime Domain Unit. EDA is also establishing best practices. To address the lack of common regulations and safety procedures, the Agency is leading the Safety and Regulations for European Unmanned Maritime Systems (SARUMS) which provides a safety framework and guidance for design, operations, and legal compliance. EDA has also supported a project to develop a swarm of biomimetic underwater vehicles for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (SABUVIS). EDA’s leadership in such projects emphasises its aim to accelerate Europe’s use of tested, mission-ready autonomous technologies in NATO and EU operations. Several start-ups supported by NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) used the event to test technologies for communications resilience, protecting undersea infrastructure and improving mine countermeasures. The Faculty of Engineering at the University of Porto and NATO’s Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation were also contributors.
Undersea warfare
The addition this year of Dynamic Messenger, led by NATO’s Allied Command Transformation and Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), added a more operational dimension. While REPMUS focused on experimentation and integration, Dynamic Messenger provided a live operational framework, showing how new technologies can be deployed with NATO fleets. More than 2,000 participants from 22 NATO nations took part, alongside observers from 13 other countries including Australia, Brazil, and South Korea. Ships from Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 also joined, highlighting the alliance’s focus on maritime readiness. Unmanned systems are not intended to replace crewed forces, but to support them, taking on tasks such as high-risk reconnaissance or supply runs in contested environments.
With EDA now firmly embedded as a co-organiser in REPMUS, officials expect the annual event to continue serving not only as NATO’s largest unmanned systems exercise, but also as a platform for closer EU-NATO cooperation in defence technology. (Source: ASD Network)
25 Sep 25. EUROCAE invites comments on UAS communications standards. EUROCAE has published a new draft document prepared by its working group on uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) known as WG-105. ED-340: Minimum Operational Performance Standard for UAS Communications by Cellular Networks outlines the standards for airborne equipment using 3GPP Cellular Networks based on 4th Generation Long Term Evolution (4G LTE) and 5th Generation New Radio (5G NR) technologies. The primary focus is on supporting UAS for small package delivery and urban air taxi operations. Open consultation will be closed the 7th of September 2025. Members can review the proposed draft on the EUROCAE Workspace and complete the comment form. Replies are invited by November 11, 2025. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
26 Sep 25. Wave Engine Corp. Debuts Scitor-P UAV at the Department of Defense Technology Readiness Experimentation (T-REX) 25-2 Exercise. The North American Wave Engine Corporation (“Wave Engine Corp.”), a technology leader in next-gen propulsion and aircraft systems, flight demonstrated its latest UAV, the Scitor-P, at the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research & Engineering’s Technology Readiness Experimentation (T-REX) 25-2 event. Scitor-P (“Production”) is the third and latest iteration of the Scitor series of UAVs, which feature a top-mounted wave engine to maximize design simplicity, affordability and modularity in response to customer demand.
“With multiple successful flight demonstrations for customers this year, we are advancing on our mission to forever change the rules for flight propulsion,” said Daanish Maqbool, CEO of Wave Engine Corp. “We believe the impact will be widespread, including for the rapidly growing counter-UAS sector that requires high interception speeds at low cost and high volume.”
Scitor-P’s enabling technology is the company’s J-1 wave engine. Wave engines are a class of aircraft engines that operate using pressure waves instead of rotating machinery. Intermittent combustion inside a hollow tube produces pressure waves that push hot gases and produce thrust. Wave Engine Corp.’s proprietary technology enables high speeds and allows for an order-of-magnitude reduction in the cost and complexity of jet propulsion. T-REX is one of the premier demonstration events for new capabilities for the Department of Defense. Wave Engine Corp.’s participation in the event capped a successful summer flight test season that started with a flight featuring a simulated tactical payload at the Bush Combat Development Complex.
A video of the T-REX 25-2 flight test was also made available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKIk-FpKA9Q
About Wave Engine Corporation
Based in Baltimore, MD, Wave Engine Corp. is a focused group of scientists, engineers and former Fortune 500 executives that is leveraging recent technological developments in propulsion, acoustics and combustion control to develop the next generation of propulsion and aircraft systems. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
26 Sep 25. European navies test new drone tech for undersea operations. An hour from Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, on a clear sunny day in late September, a large, penguin-like robot peeks above the sea surface. It circles a Portuguese Navy ship from a distance, hardly visible to the human eye, concealed by the deep blue waters of the Atlantic ocean. The system is the Greyshark from Germany’s EuroAtlas, an autonomous underwater vehicle measuring 6.5 meters in length and weighing as much as a delivery van. It is one of the naval drones the German Navy brought to the Portuguese coastal town of Sesimbra to partake in NATO’s Dynamic Messenger and REPMUS exercises. These drills, which focused on testing over 200 unmanned systems, ran for three weeks in local waters. An important portion of the training was dedicated to mine countermeasures warfare and the protection of critical underwater infrastructure. European navies are in the process of retooling their naval de-mining procedures with the help of autonomous systems and forward-deployed sensors to keep human divers away from the dangerous work. Exercise participants employed different types of naval drones to perfect mine hunting operations, which entails the complex work or coordinating the work of multiple robots simultaneously.
“Command and control, for instance, is much more complicated than it was before, because you’re bringing more [robotic] systems into the network – it requires more coordination, more people and a bigger orchestration of small tasks,” Cmdr. Andreas Montag, head of the maritime unmanned systems 3rd Minesweeping Squadron at the German Navy, said.
During REPMUS, the Greyshark, equipped with four high-resolution sonars, LIDAR scanners, electromagnetic detection and two camera systems, was tested for hunting submarines and searching for decoy mines. Officials said that it can reach ranges of up to 8,000 nautical miles, or from Sesimbra to New York and back. The German Navy also demonstrated two other naval drones from vendor EvoLogics: the Sonobot unmannedsurface vessel and the Quadroin AUV. The Sonobot was described as acting as a “surface gateway” throughout the exercise, providing underwater positioning and data networks – both wifi and GPS underwater – to other autonomous systems. It is also in use with the Ukrainian military to survey water bodies and detect dangerous objects. The Quadroin is the underwater variant of the Sonobot, and up to six were used simultaneously during certain missions to look for mines as a swarm.
“For the first time this year, we were able to not only detect mines but also identify them and get a video picture from each one during a single mission – for this the Quadroins split up their roles, some ran a sweep search of the sea floor while others directly swarm to the target and took a picture,” Rui Madeira, commander of the divers group of the Portuguese Navy said during a demonstration on Sept 23.
From manual to machine
Each week, the scenarios and tasks assigned increased in difficulty to test the readiness of the different units. For example, diver groups initially knew the zone they had to work in, but would later on find out only shortly before their missions and faced strict time constraints to complete the objective.
The French Navy tested the A9-M AUV, manufactured by Exail, during naval mine warfare operations. The platform was first deployed to survey the seabed, the sonar data were then evaluated on shore, and the potential mines were confirmed by divers or remotely operated vehicles.
For Louis, an officer with the French EOD diver group, the next phase regarding the use of unmanned technology in mine warfare operations will be the integration of artificial intelligence.
“Integrating AI into these drones would allow them to independently classify the threats they detect in the field – currently, the majority of the classification of sonar data is done by human operators after they’ve extracted the data from the system and analyzed on a computer onshore,” the officer, who withheld his last name for security reasons, told Defense News.
While technology is progressing quickly, some hiccups remain.
This was the case with the British Navy, which relied on the REMUS 100 AUV from the company HII to carry out collaborative missions with the U.S. and Dutch Navies.
One naval officer said that on a few occasions during the training, the vehicle overheated due to high temperatures experienced earlier this month. Ad-hoc solutions included keeping the drone cool with blankets and deploying it earlier in the day.
Another mishap involved two Sonobots from the German Navy that collided during a demonstration. Plus, at one point, a Portuguese fishing boat ventured into the exercise zone and struck the French A-9M system, damaging the drone enough that officials had to take it out of the demonstration. (Source: Defense News)
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EOS
Electro Optic Systems (EOS) is an Australian technology company with a global presence, delivering advanced solutions across defence and space. With operations in Australia, the United States, Europe, Singapore, the Middle East and New Zealand, EOS has been designing and manufacturing precision technologies for more than four decades.
In defence, EOS is a leader in remote weapon systems, with more than 2,500 delivered and proven in operational service with allied forces. The company designs, develops and manufactures highly accurate counter-drone solutions for force and asset protection. These include both kinetic and high energy laser options that defeat drone threats effectively and at a comparatively low cost per shot. In August 2025, EOS secured the world’s first export contract for a 100 kW-class high energy laser weapon, with delivery scheduled between 2025 and 2028.
In the space domain, EOS is internationally recognised for its expertise in space domain awareness and space control. Its ground-based optical systems track and characterise satellites and debris to support both defence and commercial operations worldwide. Through its New Zealand subsidiary, EOS also designs and manufactures precision optics for space and astronomy applications.
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