‘Mystery’ client from Europe taps Exail for fleet of surveillance USVs

June 30, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

High-tech industrial group Exail has secured a strategic defense contract with a European nation for the delivery of a fleet of five DriX H-8 uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs).

Originally developed for hydrographic missions, the DriX H-8 USV is designed to operate in both shallow and deep waters. It can execute a wide range of maritime missions, both civilian and military.

The USV measures 7.71 meters in length and has a displacement of 1.6 tons. It has a maximum speed of under 14 knots, a fuel capacity of 250 liters, giving it an operational range of up to 1,000 nautical miles.

The vessel supports ROTV towing capabilities and hovering station-keeping. It is equipped with a multibeam echosounder (MBES) capable of operating at depths up to 3,000 meters, according to Exail.

The platform has already been used by naval forces, including the U.S. Navy and the French Navy.

“We are honored by the trust placed in us by this European partner. This contract highlights the growing strategic need for unmanned maritime ISR capabilities, and we are proud that DriX has been selected to meet that challenge. It is also a recognition of DriX’s maturity, reliability and operational impact. At Exail, we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation in support of global maritime security,” Jérôme Bendell, Head of Exail Maritime Systems Business line.

To remind, in June last year, Exail conducted sea trials of DriX O-16. Twice the length and five times the displacement of the legacy DriX H-8, this USV product line, DriX O-16, is designed for long-duration operations of up to 30 days. It benefits from an autonomy of 3,500 nm and can deploy multiple payloads and subsea assets.