Ukrainian company Global Mark presented the Sea Trident ST-1000 extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV) on the static display at Eurosatory 2026. Ukrainian uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs), much less XLUUVs, have never been showcased at international exhibitions
As a company representative explained to EDR On-Line, the Sea Trident is an autonomous XLUUV designed for long-range missions in maritime environments, capable of delivering payloads to strategic targets. This underwater platform is tailored for modern asymmetric maritime operations. The vehicle is currently in the final stage of testing.
According to information presented at the show, the XLUUV has a mass of 10,000 kg, and its payload is 1,000 kg. The vehicle is 10,000 mm long, has a 2,000 mm beam, and is 1,500 mm high with folded navigation mast. It has good seakeeping characteristics, and can cope with up to 5 metres subsurface movement at depths, allowing it to operate in coastal zones. Its critical diving depth is 150 metres, maximum diving depth is 100 metres, and operating depth is 60 metres. Its maximum speed is 10 knots (18.5 km/h), and cruising speed is 6 knots (11 km/h). At cruising speed it can reach a maximum range up to 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km), allowing it to be used in strategic operations.
The vehicle’s configuration appears to provide high hydrodynamic performance and low detectability, particularly acoustic ones. Specifically, the cylindrical hull ends in an ogival bow, while the conical tail houses a shrouded propeller which reduces noise during movement. The propeller assembly has two counter-rotating propellers: a six-bladed propeller rotating counter clockwise at the front, and a five-bladed propeller rotating clockwise at the rear. The two propellers should enable the submarine to reach a maximum speed of 10 knots during the final phase of attack.
A protruding rectangular structure is mounted above the central hull, housing a folding mast and, presumably, a flexible satellite communications antenna that extends to the surface.
The XLUUV’s dimensions allow it to be transported within a standard ISO shipping container and quickly delivered to the launch site.
The new Ukrainian XLUUV can be used as a single-use strike underwater vehicle, covertly penetrating naval bases or strategic enemy installations. It can conduct reconnaissance, mine-laying, and covert logistics missions, as well as detect, intercept, and neutralize other UUVs.
According to a Global Mark representative, the development of the XLUUV Sea Trident was driven by the need to address a number of challenges facing the Ukrainian Navy in conducting asymmetric warfare at sea. Among these, he highlighted the difficulty engaging maritime targets, the high cost of traditional strike systems, limited access to strategic locations, and the growing need for covert autonomous solutions. The solution to this problem was seen in the development of new naval vehicles, including the Sea Trident XLUUV, capable of performing long-range autonomous missions in low observability. The vehicle was also required to feature adaptive navigation and ensure effective engagement of designated targets. He explained that the Sea Trident offers complete autonomy, low observability, high operational effectiveness, enables scalable production, and boasts a high cost-effectiveness ratio compared to existing analogues.
Photos by N. Novichkov and Global Mark
