France's defence agency AID and Naval Group have signed an agreement to develop the UCUV, a large unmanned combat underwater vehicle for the French Navy, Infodefensa reports. They signed it this week at the Euronaval 2026 exhibition in Paris, moving the project from studies to building a demonstrator.
According to AID, the vehicle will be able to operate for long periods and decide for itself under controlled autonomy, reacting to tactical surprises, changes in its surroundings and breakdowns. It could work alone or with crewed and uncrewed systems, and it must be transportable by air and launchable from a quay or a surface ship.
AID plans to use it for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and for offensive missions to neutralise threats. Official information does not yet give its size, endurance, maximum depth or weapons.
The project continues work begun in 2023 with France's armaments directorate, the DGA, and draws on tests with an oceanic drone demonstrator that Naval Group paid for itself. Sea trials are to start in 2028.
Also reported by DefenceTurk and Ares Difesa
