The French company Exail achieved a global milestone in maritime technology by completing a 1,100-nautical-mile (2,000 km) transit with its unmanned surface vehicle (USV) DriX O-16, from La Ciotat, France, to Troia, Portugal, to participate in NATO’s REPMUS 2025 exercise.
The 16-meter platform sailed for six days without stops, passing through the Strait of Gibraltar, one of the busiest maritime routes in the world.
Operated under supervised autonomy from Exail’s Remote Operations Center (ROC), the DriX O-16 demonstrated endurance, situational awareness, and reliable decision-making even in heavy traffic.
The crossing proves that large USVs can operate remotely in open waters and restricted routes, arriving at their destination fully mission-ready without the need for heavy logistical support.
In addition to the transit, the DriX O-16 mapped the seafloor using a Kongsberg EM304 multibeam echosounder, showcasing its ability to collect scientific data during transit. According to Sébastien Grall, Head of Maritime Autonomy Solutions at Exail, the mission sets a new standard for surface drone operations: safe, reliable, and ready for long-range missions.
Source: Naval News | Photo: LinkedIn – Exail | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
