ARQUIMEA unveils Kronos Mini – a new autonomous naval system to reinforce its capabilities in naval loitering systems
ARQUIMEA, a European technology company specialising in autonomous systems for defence and security, is presenting its new capabilities for the naval domain at Eurosatory 2026 with the first unveiling of Kronos Mini, its new autonomous naval surface system. The company is also showcasing S-WISE, an uncrewed underwater system designed to operate on the surface and underwater in the most demanding naval scenarios.
Kronos Mini is a new type of vessel capable of navigating on the surface as a planing craft assisted by its hydrofoil. In addition, this element also allows the vehicle to submerge in order to carry out attacks beneath the waves and always impact below the waterline. It is a highly compact electrically powered vessel capable of being launched from 533mm torpedo tubes.
Kronos Mini is the latest addition to ARQUIMEA’s family of autonomous naval platforms. This unmanned surface vehicle (USV) has been developed to carry out a wide variety of missions. These range from maritime surveillance and reconnaissance to the protection of critical infrastructure; communications relay and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR); or its deployment as a naval loitering munition in anti-surface warfare (ASuW) missions.
Kronos Mini can carry out these missions simultaneously, operating independently or as part of a coordinated swarm. Highly stealthy and high-performing, it has a unique capability in this type of system to conduct short-distance underwater navigation when required.
Thanks to its modular architecture and autonomous operation capability, Kronos Mini provides armed forces with a flexible, scalable and easily deployable solution, capable of increasing operational persistence while reducing personnel exposure in risk environments. It has a maximum speed of 20 knots on the surface and an endurance of 65 nautical miles, with a payload capacity of 30 kg and a length of 2 metres.
Alongside Kronos Mini, ARQUIMEA is exhibiting S-WISE, an uncrewed maritime system capable of operating as both an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) and an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) within the same mission with maximum discretion, in ASuW missions or by integrating different types of sonars for mine countermeasures (MCM) missions. This platform expands surface and underwater surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, supported by the advanced onboard computer it shares with Kronos Mini, providing advanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and automatic target designation.
The Kronos and WISE families of uncrewed vehicles complement each other as a fusion of sensors and effectors on the same platform, sharing technologies, internal components and enabling technologies to perform missions both on the surface and underwater, making the most of the advantages associated with each type of platform.
Manuel Martín, general manager of defence at ARQUIMEA: “Maritime domains are increasingly relevant to security and defence. With Kronos Mini and S-WISE, we offer autonomous capabilities that enable naval forces to expand their operational reach, improve the protection of strategic infrastructure and increase the effectiveness of their missions.”
These capabilities are part of ARQUIMEA’s growth strategy in multi-domain autonomous systems. The company currently has more than five references worldwide that use ARQUIMEA’s loitering systems. In addition, the company is strengthening its industrial capacity with new facilities covering more than 12,000 square metres, the result of an investment of over 10 million euros. These infrastructures enable the company to produce autonomous systems at scale through highly industrialised processes, ensuring the capacity needed to respond to the growing national and international demand for uncrewed solutions.
Visitors will be able to discover these capabilities at the Spain Pavilion, Hall 6 – Stand 209.