Exail’s DriX H-9 selected for defense counter-UAS program

April 17, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

Exail has secured a new contract for its long-range uncrewed surface vehicle (USV), the DriX H-9, with a leading defense research organization.

As informed, the DriX H-9, will be equipped for counter-unmanned aerial system (CUAS) missions, integrating advanced sensor technologies to detect, track, and mitigate aerial threats. The system will leverage CUAS technology initially developed for land platforms and now adapted for the maritime domain.

The H-9 combines long-range autonomy, high payload capacity, and modular design to enable rapid integration of new mission systems to support emerging naval and multi-domain operations.

This is the second DriX H-9 order in just a few months for defense applications, confirming the growing momentum of Exail’s USV solutions in the defense sector. With this new contract, Exail continues to expand the operational versatility of the DriX Series.

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UUV/UAV

“This new contract illustrates how Exail’s uncrewed surface vessels are becoming key enablers for future defense concepts. By adapting the DriX Series to new missions such as CUAS, we’re demonstrating how uncrewed systems can enhance operational agility and resilience across all domains,” Marine Slingue, President of Exail Defense Systems, said.

In January this year, Exail received orders for several hundred K-STER mine neutralization drones, destined for several navies. The K-STER drones are used in the last phase of the missions in order to neutralize the underwater threats previously identified by the other drones of the UMIS demining system.