🤖 Autonomous surveying at a new level
Kraken Robotics $PNG (+2,15 %) and TKMS ATLAS UK (subsidiary of $DE000TKMS001 (+1,91 %) ) have developed the KATFISH Unmanned Surface Vessel Launch and Recovery System (USV-LARS) successfully on the ARCIMS-USV of the Royal Navy.
The result is a fully autonomous survey system for:
- maritime security missions
- Mine Countermeasures (MCM)
- Inspection of critical underwater infrastructure
The combination is regarded as industry's first air-deployable, autonomous towed sonar systemthat:
- down to 300 meters depth is operational
- Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) utilizes
- high-resolution surveying even in very shallow water enables
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🌊 Live demonstration for NATO navies
The demonstration took place on November 18-19 off the coast of Portland (UK) and was aimed specifically at NATO navies.
On display was:
- ✔️ autonomous mission planning and navigation of the ARCIMS-USV
- ✔️ Towed operation of the KATFISH system with high-resolution SAS and bathymetry data
- ✔️ Live data transmission via satellite to a land-based command center
- ✔️ Real-time classification of contacts by operators
A strong signal for the operational readiness of autonomous systems in real naval operations.
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🛡️ Force Multiplier for small naval platforms
CEO Greg Reid emphasizes the strategic importance:
- Unmanned systems are rapidly gaining importance in the defense sector
- USV-LARS enables safe, autonomous deployment and recovery from KATFISH
- Even small naval platforms can now collect high-resolution SAS data
➡️ Result: Significantly increased capabilities at lower cost - a classic force multiplier.
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⚙️ Robust, modular, ready for use
The LARS system was specially developed for the ARCIMS deck interface from ATLAS UK:
- ✔️ fast reel changes (rerole capable)
- ✔️ seamless integration
- ✔️ Operational up to sea state 3
Particularly impressive:
- Integration, testing and demonstration were completed completed within just two weeks. completed in just two weeks.
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🔬 Technical highlights of KATFISH
- Range: up to 200 meters per side
- Operating depth: up to 300 meters
- Resolution:
3 cm × 3 cm in real time - Material: Full titanium construction
- Advantages: light weight, low magnetic signature
Specially designed for small unmanned platforms and demanding military environments.
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🔮 Strategic importance
According to TKMS ATLAS UK, the successful integration sets a new industry standard:
- faster deployment
- modular, scalable solutions
- cost-effective mine countermeasures
The combination of ARCIMS + KATFISH + USV-LARS positions Kraken Robotics excellently in the growing market for autonomous maritime defense systems.
Pictured: Kraken's KATFISH and the UPS LARS system attached to TKMS Atlas UK's ARCIMS 11-meter UPS
Image source: Kraken Robotics
