According to information published by the French MoD on January 30, 2024, the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) has taken a significant step forward in underwater warfare technology. On December 28, 2023, an agreement was formalized with Naval Group to develop a prototype for a large unmanned combat underwater vehicle (UCUV).
This project aims to develop various critical technologies essential for the UCUV demonstrator, including energy autonomy and the integration of autonomous sensors and processing capabilities.
The agreement underscores the increasing importance of large unmanned combat submarines (XL-UUV) for potential applications identified by the French Navy and the DGA.
This collaboration builds upon existing R&D efforts that culminated in the development of an initial XL-UUV demonstrator, which Naval Group successfully tested at sea by the end of summer 2023. This prototype is expected to serve as an experimental laboratory for the DGA’s various development initiatives.
Initial efforts will focus on enhancing the drone’s decision-making autonomy and safe navigation capabilities. The DGA has set a highly ambitious goal to launch and operationally evaluate a large, long-endurance demonstrator, exceeding 10 meters in length and weighing over 10 tons.
The signing of this framework agreement aligns with the French Ministry of the Armed Forces’ dedicated efforts in naval drone technology, in line with the Military Programming Law 2024-2030.