Oceanic Underwater Drone Demonstrator
Galería
Descripción general
French Naval Group's 10 m extra-large uncrewed submarine demonstrator, precursor to France's UCUV program.
Naval Group's Oceanic Underwater Drone Demonstrator is a privately funded extra-large uncrewed submarine that the French shipbuilder used to mature the technologies behind France's future combat underwater drone. The whale-shaped vehicle is about 10 m long and displaces around 10 tonnes, with a modular hull that could be stretched to about 20 m for more energy. It cruises at 6 knots and can sprint to 16 knots on batteries, and Naval Group has proposed its fuel-cell air-independent propulsion for longer missions. A large sonar suite and a retractable optronic and radar mast support covert ISR and coastal observation, with space reserved for future torpedoes or mines. Sea trials began in 2020, and in December 2023 France's DGA contracted Naval Group to build a 10 m Unmanned Combat Underwater Vehicle prototype.
Roles principales
Notas
Reported figures: about 10 m long (stretchable to about 20 m with extra energy), about 10 tonnes, 16 kn maximum and 6 kn cruise, battery-powered with fuel-cell AIP proposed. Sea trials began in November 2020. In December 2023 the DGA contracted Naval Group to design, build, and test a 10 m Unmanned Combat Underwater Vehicle prototype.
