The UHSI32 is being developed as a true game changer for future European naval operations.
Unmanned or optionally manned
With the resurgence of great-power competition, hybrid operations targeting maritime infrastructure and an ever-increasing demand for rapidly deployable, low-risk capabilities, Europe’s security architecture faces a profound (maritime) transformation. The Unmanned High-Speed Interceptor 32 (UHSI32), developed by the European shipbuilding group CMN NAVAL, is the first market-ready response to this challenge: a highly mobile, sea-proven, fully modular multi-mission platform.
The UHSI32 stands out as a primus inter pares – an effective, rapidly (re-)procurable unmanned system tailored for European navies. Based on the proven HSI32, reaching 48 knots and 64 units actively serving worldwide, the UHSI32 combines combat-proven platform technology with cutting-edge autonomy.
Strategic context: “Zeitenwende”, FCSS and Navy 2035+
European and German defence guidelines, in particular, strongly emphasise the rapid introduction of market-ready, quickly deliverable systems to meet the growing and increasingly complex threat landscape, particularly in regions such as the Baltic Sea. The recent vision articulated by Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, Chief of the German Navy – “Every platform a drone carrier” – epitomises this paradigm shift in naval force development.
The UHSI32 fits squarely into this context:
Rapidly available and scalable through an established production line;
100 percent European-built, ITAR-free;
Fully compatible with key programmes such as the Future Combat Surface System (FCSS).
Major system components – propulsion, autonomy software, command and control (C2), effectors, sensors and navigation – are provided by renowned German and European companies such as TKMS ATLAS Elektronik, MTU, Anschütz, Rheinmetall, Safran and MBDA. The UHSI32 achieved a notable milestone in 2022 at the World Defence Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where it was successfully remote-controlled from nearly 5,000km away – earning the award for “Best Interceptor USV” globally. Since then, CMN NAVAL has continued to advance its unmanned systems portfolio, introducing designs such as the DV10. In July 2025, live demonstrations took place at CMN NAVAL’s shipyard in Cherbourg in Normandy with some notable European officials.
The highlights included:
Fully autonomous waypoint navigation at high speed;
Collision avoidance during a live scenario involving a rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) at critical CPA;
Successful interception of evasive tracks.
Observers also experienced the manned variant’s agility first-hand, executing hard rudder turns and full stops at high speed – manoeuvres beyond the limits of most comparable systems. The UHSI32 aligns seamlessly with strategic initiatives such as Germany’s “Navy 2035+,” “Accelerated Entry into Unmanned Systems and AI” (2023), “COMMANDER’S INTENT 2025” and the policy announced during Navy Talks (May 2025).
Operational readiness: from the Indian Ocean to the Baltic Sea
Built on the combat-proven HSI32 platform, the UHSI32 inherits exceptional seakeeping and durability, demonstrated in harsh environments such as the Indian Ocean, Arabian/Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Atlantic and North Sea. Adapting these qualities to an unmanned configuration now enables operations in contested waters like the Baltic Sea – areas saturated with adversary sensors and weapons – without risking personnel. Its capabilities surpass historical concepts such as Cold War fast attack craft, adding autonomy, higher speeds and modular adaptability.
Containerisation: key to flexibility
Modularity and flexibility – often overused buzzwords – regain real meaning with the UHSI32. Its ability to integrate 20-ft ISO containers, such as SH DEFENCE’s Cube™ system, transforms it into a maritime “Swiss Army Knife.”
_Rapid mission reconfiguration at the pier
_Full spectrum of roles: strike missions, minelaying, EW (electronic warfare), ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) – all unmanned.
Autonomous minelaying with the BLOCKER system
Through container integration, the UHSI32 can deploy advanced minelaying systems such as BLOCKER, developed by SH Defence in cooperation with TKMS ATLAS Elektronik. The system’s key performance characteristics include:
_NATO-compliant, ITAR-free, fully automated
_Configurable trigger mechanisms (acoustic, magnetic, pressure)
_Precise placement via GPS, INS and digital bathymetry
_Fully automated process from loading to laying, with rearming in <30 minutes.
This capability enables area-denial operations deep in contested areas without risking personnel – a game-changing advantage.
Lessons from Operation “Spider Web”
Ukraine’s Operation “Spider Web” (June 2025) demonstrated the disruptive impact of low-cost unmanned systems deep behind enemy lines. The UHSI32 embraces the same principle:
_Integration of drone launch/landing modules
_Loitering munitions
_ISR, ECM (electronic countermeasures) from containerised modules.
All executed with mission-specific autonomy from TKMS ATLAS Elektronik – ensuring a fully uncrewed platform for maximum survivability.
Tactical utility and swarm capability:
_Operates stand-alone or in swarms (up to three units controlled from one TOC)
_Seamless integration with manned assets, e.g., Type K130 corvettes
_Force multiplier for reconnaissance, strike, and deterrence in contested waters.
Rapid acquisition advantages:
_Immediate boost to readiness
_Cost reduction through proven technology
_Low developmental risk and predictable timelines.
A European system for European navies
With production hubs in Cherbourg (CMN NAVAL) and Kiel (German Naval Yards), CMN NAVAL is uniquely positioned for Franco-German leadership in unmanned surface warfare. The standardised core platform with customisable mission modules aligns with the EU’s “ReArms EUROPE” initiative, attracting growing interest from multiple navies.
A proven legacy of Franco-German naval cooperation
It would not be the first time CMN NAVAL designs have demonstrated their value in German naval service. The former Bundesmarine successfully operated a fleet of fast attack craft (FAC) of the Tiger class based on the French LA COMBATTANTE IIa design developed by CMN NAVAL. These vessels were adapted to meet German operational requirements and became a key element of maritime strategy, showcasing how European shipbuilding partnerships can deliver highly capable naval assets. The UHSI32 now carries this tradition into the unmanned era – combining proven design heritage with cutting-edge autonomy and modularity.
Cross-border procurement and EU frameworks: a catalyst for international cooperation
The recently adopted German legislation to accelerate planning and procurement for the Bundeswehr (July 2025), alongside EU-wide initiatives such as the “Defence Omnibus” and the “European Defence Industry Reinforcement through Common Procurement Act,” is creating, for the first time, a coherent legal and financial framework for rapid, cross-border acquisition projects. In this context, the UHSI32 represents an ideal pilot case for a joint procurement programme – potentially spearheaded by France and Germany – as a true “flagship cooperation” for the maritime dimension of the European Defence Union. The concept of a standardised, modular core platform with nationally adaptable mission modules fully aligns with the guiding principles of the EU Defence Package: interoperability, cost-sharing and industrial value creation within Europe. Thanks to its anchoring in the new acceleration law, programmes like the UHSI32 can not only be prioritised under national legislation but also co-financed with EU funds – providing a decisive lever to boost fleet strength for both navies in record time. CMN NAVAL and German Naval Yards together provide a solid industrial foundation for Europe’s maritime resilience strategy – delivering a rapid, ITAR-free and fully European solution that ensures strategic autonomy and operational superiority for future naval operations.
Conclusion
The UHSI32 is more than a high-speed unmanned vessel. It is Europe’s first truly modular, autonomous and acquisition-ready surface platform – delivering maritime resilience without decades-long procurement cycles. The Baltic is not a test range. It is a frontline. The UHSI32 is ready for exactly this.