Wedoany.com Report on Mar 11th, Rheinmetall recently announced an expansion of its production scale for unmanned surface vessels (USVs) in Hamburg, Germany. According to the project plan, production will start with an initial batch of 15 vessels and gradually increase the annual output to 200 units. If the Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg can operate on a three-shift basis, the facility's potential annual production capacity is estimated to reach approximately 1,000 vessels. These vessels will primarily be deployed for the protection of critical infrastructure.
Rheinmetall manager Tim Wagner provided details on the project's progress. Tim Wagner stated, "Rheinmetall is currently starting with a relatively small number of 15 unmanned surface vessels to advance the overall project." When discussing technical details, he mentioned that while the current Kraken K3 Scout model still operates via remote control, the development goal is to enable fully autonomous navigation in the future.
Regarding the cooperation model, Rheinmetall has established a joint venture with the British manufacturer Kraken Technology Group, focusing on the construction of these so-called "unmanned surface vehicles." Wagner revealed that construction plans for 150 vessels have already been confirmed through contracts.
Integration of the related supply chain is also progressing simultaneously. In early March of this year, Rheinmetall completed the acquisition of NVL, a transaction that formally brought the Blohm+Voss shipyard into its corporate structure. The shipyard was previously owned by the Bremen-based shipbuilding group Lürssen. By consolidating these manufacturing resources, Rheinmetall is steadily building an industrial foundation capable of supporting large-scale mass production.
With the continuous improvement of the production line, these highly automated unmanned surface vessels will become important tools for maintaining waterway safety and the stability of maritime facilities. Through such technological transformation, German companies are attempting to establish a more competitive supply system in the field of surface automation equipment.
