Historical developments in USV, UUV and UGV systems. Original milestones, source-linked evidence and reviewed UXV Searcher analysis.
SeaFox/Seefuchs mine-disposal vehicles were presented during the German Navy's April 23, 2026 mine-countermeasures capability briefing in Kiel. The tether-controlled family supports close mine identification, with an expendable configuration used for mine neutralization.
Original event: 23 Apr 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
On May 25, 2026, RFA Lyme Bay sailed from Gibraltar carrying Royal Navy autonomous mine-hunting equipment including SeaCat. The SeaCat AUV was embarked to support detailed seabed-sonar mapping as part of preparations for a possible multinational Strait of Hormuz mine-countermeasures mission.
Original event: 25 May 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
C2 Robotics announced a German sale of the Speartooth Large Uncrewed Undersea Vehicle on May 20, 2026, and subsequent BAAINBw-confirmed reporting stated that the Bundeswehr had acquired one vehicle. The modular LUUV is intended for forthcoming technical evaluation by WTD 71 for experimentation with large autonomous-underwater-system concepts and payloads.
Original event: May 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
On May 29, 2026, Helsing completed its acquisition of Blue Ocean Marine Tech Systems following regulatory and legal approvals. Helsing stated that the transaction would accelerate its maritime-defence program by combining Blue Ocean's autonomous-underwater hardware expertise with Helsing's SG-1 Fathom and Lura capabilities.
Original event: 29 May 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
In June 2026, UK Defence Equipment & Support published a transparency notice for an intended two-year SeaFox in-service support arrangement with TKMS Atlas UK. The proposed GBP 12 million requirement covers support for the Royal Navy's mine-identification and disposal system and relies on direct-award justification linked to OEM technical access.
Original event: June 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
On June 11, 2026, the European Extended Mine Countermeasures consortium held its Critical Design Review at TKMS ATLAS ELEKTRONIK in Bremen. Participating member states reviewed the system design and requirements, and the milestone marked completion of the design phase and transition toward prototyping of autonomous mine-countermeasure toolboxes and platforms.
Original event: 11 Jun 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
During Exercise Sea Breeze 26-2 from July 13-24, 2026, participating naval forces conducted mine-countermeasure, EOD, and unmanned-underwater-system training in Portland. SeaFox capability was associated with participating Ukrainian minehunters through participant and industry evidence, linking the German-origin mine-disposal system to the exercise.
Original event: July 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
On July 22, 2026, the Royal Navy reported SeaCat training for Zulu Unit 2 through the Mine and Threat Exploitation Group's Operational Conversion Unit. The training developed operator proficiency for seabed-object detection and identification, including support to continuous-at-sea-deterrence activity in Clyde waters.
Original event: 22 Jul 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
On August 13, 2026, members of a Schleswig-Holstein security and defence-industry commission observed a practical GREYSHARK test deployment off the German coast.
Original event: 13 Aug 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
In early June 2026, the Finnish Border Guard and Finnish Navy conducted field testing in the Gulf of Finland using a remote-controlled underwater robot alongside vessels, divers, and other test equipment.
Original event: June 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
From February 9-13, 2026, South Korean supplier Aqua Systems completed delivery and five days of operator training for a VideoRay MSS Defender remotely operated vehicle to an undisclosed Republic of Korea Navy unit.
Original event: February 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
On June 11, 2026, a PPS procurement notice was issued for improvement of a submarine-simulator test platform supporting a drogue-based UUV launch-and-recovery R&D program.
Original event: 11 Jun 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
On July 2-3, 2026, the ROK Navy Sea Salvage and Rescue Unit convened its annual rescue-development advisory committee and reviewed research presentations relevant to future rescue capability. The material included a swarm-search autonomous UUV concept and operating system intended to improve underwater search efficiency and collaborative rescue missions.
Original event: July 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
In July 2026, PPS re-tendered the drogue-UUV submarine-simulator platform requirement under notice R26BK01615676-000 after the earlier procurement stage. The re-tender specified one integrated test-platform set, a KRW 890 million project amount, and a May 31, 2027 delivery deadline if awarded.
Original event: July 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
On July 21, 2026, KRISO published procurement plan R26DD20825247 for manufacture of the complete CRM100 underwater walking-robot prototype. The underlying defence-funded program concerns an autonomous underwater walking and swimming robot for buried-mine search, with associated autonomous perception, movement, and mission-control technologies.
Original event: 21 Jul 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
On July 30, 2026, the Agency for Defense Development publicly unveiled the MR-X mission-reconfigurable extra-large unmanned underwater vehicle demonstrator at the DAPA-hosted 9th Defense Science and Technology Fair.
Original event: 30 Jul 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
On August 3, 2026, the Republic of Korea Navy and Hanwha Systems conducted an AI-based manned-unmanned mine-warfare combat experiment at the Navy Operations Command base in Busan.
Original event: 3 Aug 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
On August 14, 2026, KRISO reissued the CRM100 hydrodynamic-resistance wind-tunnel-test requirement under notice R26BK01682953-000. The re-tender retained a KRW 27,272,727 estimated price and KRW 30 million budget and scheduled bid opening for August 25.
Original event: 14 Aug 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026