At Euronaval 2026 in Paris, French maritime robotics specialist SeaOwl and European defense company KNDS announced a strategic cooperation agreement to develop and field the Tracus, an innovative kamikaze Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) equipped with a special 30kg warhead.
Originally developed as a training solution to help the French Navy prepare against asymmetric threats, the Tracus system has evolved into a fully operational surface drone capable of executing offensive anti-ship and defensive anti-swarm missions.
Deployment from ships
For tactical deployment, SeaOwl has engineered a patented box launching system. This enclosed launcher allows operators to activate and deploy the USV into the water from a height of up to 7 meters in a matter of seconds, making it compatible with the deck or bridge of virtually any surface combatant.
Lethality and Performance
KNDS leveraged its deep expertise in precision munitions to develop the system’s dedicated 30 kg fragmentation warhead. Filled with explosives and preformed high-density alloy fragments, the munition is engineered to penetrate 20 mm steel plating. Upon detonation, it creates a breach up to 3 meters in diameter to flood and sink high-value targets, including first-rank frigates. For defensive screening operations, the Tracus can be equipped with a blast charge designed specifically to neutralize incoming swarms of hostile kamikaze drones or small vessels.
According to joint specifications released during the exhibition, the Tracus achieves a maximum speed of 35 knots and features a combat range of up to 200 kilometers. To increase survivability and surprise during interception missions, the USV’s radar and optical signatures have been heavily optimized to maximize stealth.
Despite its high degree of autonomy in navigating contested maritime environments, the Tracus maintains a strict human-in-the-loop control architecture. The final decision to engage a target rests exclusively with the remote operator over a cyber-secure firing chain. Additionally, a reversible armament device allows the operator to safely abort the mission and retrieve the drone if a target is not found or the engagement is canceled.
