Autonomous Maritime Counter-UAS Vessel Undergoes Sea Trials

Kraken Technology Group and Saab UK have developed and sea-tested a prototype autonomous “drone seeker” vessel designed to detect and track airborne threats in maritime environments.

The experimental platform integrates Saab UK’s Giraffe 1X lightweight 3D radar into the modular payload bay of Kraken’s K3 SCOUT Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV). By pairing real-time aerial threat detection with a high-performance uncrewed craft, the integration is expected to provide enhanced early warning of aerial threats, including the detection of small airborne targets at extended ranges.

Designed to operate independently or alongside conventional surface vessels within a hybrid navy framework, the prototype demonstrates how autonomous systems can extend sensing and early-warning capabilities without requiring an additional crewed platform.

The capability progressed from initial concept to a working prototype in less than seven months, with a series of sea trials conducted to evaluate radar performance in maritime conditions. The rapid integration highlights how K3 SCOUT’s modular architecture can bring new sensors and payloads to sea, creating deployable autonomous capabilities to help protect shipping, ports, offshore energy assets, and critical national infrastructure.

Mal Crease, CEO and Founder of Kraken Technology Group, commented, “Kraken and Saab UK’s prototype “drone seeker” vessel is exactly what the K3 SCOUT was designed to do: integrate with mission-relevant payloads to then operate in austere maritime environments.”

Andy Fraser, Managing Director of Saab UK, added, “This is a pioneering, UK manufactured, deployable capability, that together with Kraken we’ve developed in less than seven months. This reflects the strength of our partnership, the maturity and flexibility of our respective technologies, and our ability to respond at pace to the evolving threat landscape and needs of our customers.”

Both companies manufacture their respective technologies in Fareham, UK. Following a $175 million Series B funding round and a $1 billion valuation, Kraken is scaling production to 1,000 vessels per year at its new 35,000 sq ft facility to support growing allied demand for maritime defense capabilities.