The UK’s Royal Navy has awarded Saab a £15 million ($19.85 million) contract for several Sea Giraffe 1X radars to equip Kraken Technology’s autonomous K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessels (USV), the company announced on November 10.
The contract covers further development and integration into naval operations following shore and sea trials. Saab said the trials demonstrated autonomous detection, tracking and classification of airborne targets in challenging maritime conditions.
Saab and Kraken said the system would extend sensing and early-warning coverage without deploying another crewed platform, supporting protection of warships, commercial shipping, ports and critical infrastructure.
The radar-equipped prototype is a sensor-only platform intended to pass target tracks to other assets for engagement. Captain Adam Ballard, Royal Navy Deputy Commander Surface Flotilla, said the combination would provide forward air surveillance, enabling early detection of hostile tracks for subsequent engagement.
The Royal Navy commissioned its 1st Autonomous Squadron at Portsmouth on November 5. The unit’s remit includes operating USVs individually and with task groups as part of the navy’s developing Hybrid Fleet.
The K3 Scout measures 8.4 metres and has a maximum speed of 55 knots and endurance of seven days.