New High-Speed Unmanned Surface Vessel Enters Series Production

The new Kraken K3 Scout Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV), jointly developed by Rheinmetall Naval Systems and the UK-based Kraken Technology Group, is being showcased at the Eurosatory 2026 exhibition following the commencement of its series production.

Measuring approximately 8.5 metres in length, the autonomous platform features a payload capacity of 600 kilograms and can achieve speeds of up to 55 knots.

Depending on the specified configuration, the vessel is designed for deployment across multiple roles, including maritime surveillance, the protection of critical infrastructure, and operation as a military weapons platform. This flexibility directly addresses an expanding global demand for commercially available unmanned systems suited for both military and civilian applications.

Manufacturing for the vessel began in April at Blohm+Voss, a Hamburg-based shipyard that the Düsseldorf-based Rheinmetall technology group is transforming into Germany’s primary test and technology centre for unmanned and autonomous maritime systems. The production run is managed by Rheinmetall Kraken GmbH, a joint venture established last year between the two engineering firms to deliver market-ready unmanned platforms across diverse operational requirements and platform sizes.

Attendees at the Eurosatory exhibition can view the system at stand F115/F116.