French shipbuilder Naval Group and Abu Dhabi's TII have agreed to jointly develop autonomous underwater vehicles, Naval Technology reported. The two organisations announced the partnership at the Euronaval 2026 exhibition in Paris.
The work involves uncrewed submersibles for peacetime waters alongside armed robotic craft designed for hostile settings. The project pairs Naval Group's combat systems with an extra-large modular underwater vehicle built by TII. The Emirati craft is 5.5 metres long, fits into a standard 20-foot shipping container, and is designed to travel up to 450 kilometres on a single battery charge.
The partnership is intended to build underwater autonomy in the United Arab Emirates and expand industrial ties with France's naval sector. Najwa Aaraj, chief executive of TII, said the collaboration brings together complementary strengths in research and naval engineering.
Also reported by ITWeb
