Kraken Technology Group and Saab UK have built an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) with a specific job: go looking for drones.
The experimental “drone seeker” pairs Kraken’s K3 SCOUT autonomous USV with Saab’s Giraffe 1X lightweight 3D surveillance radar, giving the vessel the ability to spot and track small airborne threats while operating at sea.
The prototype went from concept to working vessel in less than seven months, followed by sea trials to assess how the radar performed in maritime conditions.
The new USV can operate independently or in tandem with conventional surface vessels, potentially giving ships and other maritime assets an extra set of eyes without putting another crewed platform at risk.
The concept also fits into the “hybrid navy” approach, which combines crewed and autonomous systems.
“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,” said Mal Crease, chief executive officer and founder of Kraken Technology Group.
“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,” added Andy Fraser, managing director of Saab UK.
The Tech Behind the Vessel
The Giraffe 1X weighs less than 150 kilograms (331 pounds) and can detect and track a range of airborne and incoming threats, including helicopters, missiles, rockets, artillery rounds, mortar projectiles, and small drones.
It is intended to support missions including ground-based air defense, very short-range air defense, and counter-unmanned aerial vehicle operations.
Kraken’s K3 SCOUT provides the platform for the radar. The USV measures 8.4 meters (27.6 feet) long and 1.93 meters (6.3 feet) wide, with a maximum displacement of 2,500 kilograms (5,512 pounds).
It can remain at sea for up to 30 days, reach speeds of 55 knots (102 kilometers/63 miles per hour), and travel up to 650 nautical miles (1,204 kilometers/748 miles).
