Euronaval 2026 – SEAir: ARROW project progressing, FT80 shortlisted for DANAE, and new SP40 unveiled

Founded ten years ago, in 2016, and specialised in hydrofoils-equipped boats, SEAir, a French company based in Lorient, Britanny, is active both in leisure and professional foils-equipped platforms, and is the provider of some Special Forces unit, its products being capable to reach high speed even in rough sea. At Euronaval 2026 the company showcased its FT80 solution for DANAE, the model of the ARROW project in a dedicated booth, and unveiled the SP40, an affordable uncrewed surface vessel which can “fly” at over 30 knots

A specialist in foil-equipped platforms, SEAir has very soon been involved in military programmes. In 2020 its’ proposal was selected for an EDIDP (European Defence Industrial Development Programme) sponsored programm; known as TRANSFLYTOR, for troop TRANSportation FLYing VecTOR, this EUR 2.1 million funded project was aimed at the design of a “high-speed vessel equipped with retractable hydrofoil systems for rapid military interventions at sea,” according to the EDIDP document. With the Laurient-based company in the lead, the team also included D3 Applied Tech of Spain and Tuco Yacht Vaerft APS Denmark. The design issued from the 24-month project, which ran between 2021 and 2023, led to the design of a 20-meter surface vessel equipped with retractable hydrofoils, propulsion being provided by electric motors fitted in pods located at the bottom of the foils.

On one hand the know-how and experience acquired with the TRANSFLYTOR project led SEAir to develop its SP200 platform design. With the same length, it is fitted with three retractable vertical legs with foils, one aft and two at mid-hull, the latter connected by the large foil, each leg being also fitted with an electric motor pod activating a five-blade propeller, according to drawings. On the other hand, the TRANSFLYTOR design study became the technical foundation for a following European Union-sponsored project, known as ARROW (Autonomous Rapid Recognition Operation Warship).

Here too SEAir was the leading company of a consortium including C&V Defence (Belgium), D3 Applied Tech SL (Spain), Knierim Yachtbau GmbH (Germany), Maritime Robotics SA (Norway), with five supporting partners, Riga Technical University (Latvia), TalTech (Estonia), Sierra Tango (Belgium), Maxwell Applied Technologies (Spain) and EU3STAR (the Netherlands). The ARROW will have a 12-metre-long hull and will feature a hybrid propulsion system; it will “fly” thanks to four retractable vertical legs carrying foils at their lower extremities, the two rear ones also carrying electric motor pods activating a five-blade propeller, according to the model exhibited in Paris. “We completely custom-designed the propulsion pods in-house as we were unable to find on the market what we needed in terms of power and size,” EDR On-Line was told. Motors are powered by batteries, which are recharged by a diesel generator, ensuring considerable autonomy, the aim being to have the ARROW operating ahead of a naval group at 200 NM distance in one of its mission profiles, maximum range to be 400 NM. The Knierim shipyard just started producing the mould, the consortium aiming at finishing qualifications within 2028, in line with the 33 months project duration. The estimated total cost is EUR 10.7 million, maximum EU contribution through the European Defence Fund being 8 million. The Arrow is being considered for three main categories of missions, maritime security operations, naval forces support, and special operations in hostile areas. Speed, reduced fuel consumption, 50% that of a standard vessel according to industry, near silent operations thanks to hydrofoils and electric propulsion, low visibility thanks to reduced wake signature, are among the advantages of the solution proposed to the EU by the consortium.

As a by-product of ARROW SEAIr is developing the SP120, which maintains most of the ARROW features but is fitted with three retractable vertical legs, all carrying foils as well as the electric motor pod. Designed for a variety of missions including intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare, naval combat, and special operations, it has a top speed of 45 kts and can maintain a cruise speed of 35–38 knots in sea state 4, with a 400 NM range and the capability to operate up to Sea State 6. The SP120 can be replenished at sea, can be deployed from an LPD amphibious ship, and has a payload between 650 and 1,000 kg.

Beside rigid hull platforms, SEAir also developed inflatable boats such as the FT80, FT standing for Flying Tender. Fitted in an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) configuration it has been involved in some tests in cooperation with Thales, and in 2025 it took part in the NATO REPMUS (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping using Maritime Uncrewed Systems) trials, embarked on board the Courbet, a French Navy La Fayette-class frigate. This proved that it could potentially be embarked at any time on board such type of ship, the frigate staff being very satisfied of its performances. That successful campaign led to the participation, once again in cooperation with Thales, in the much more challenging “Dynamic Manta”, the NATO exercise aimed at testing submarine warfare and anti-submarine warfare capabilities, where 16 submarines challenged the defensive assets.

Beside the advantage in terms of maximum and cruise speed, as well as in stability, foils proved to be a considerable fuel-saving solution. “Depending on the speed range fuel saving goes between 35% and 60%,” EDR On-Line was told, company officials explaining that SEAir is looking for the best compromise between lift, speed and stability, reducing vibrations and sea-induced movements being a plus also on uncrewed boats, considering electronic equipment and optronic systems stabilisation, reliability being the other key project parameter.

In January 2026, the French Defence Innovation Agency (AID) and the French General Armaments Directorate (DGA), launched the DANAE innovation acceleration project (Drone de surface Autonome Naval avec une capacité d’Armement Embarqué, Autonomous Naval Surface Drone with Onboard Weaponry) allow the French Navy to test naval drones for base protection and vessels escort missions. Seven companies/consortiums answered the call, among them the ORCAS Group, led by SEAir and formed by Ægir, Diadès and Inpixal, which proposal was based on the well-proven FT80. Following completion of Phase 1, ORCAS was shortlisted together with two other competitors for Phase 2. The SEAir-led consortium exhibited its FT80 at Euronaval. For phase 2, which started in early October 2026, the consortium received a very comprehensive set of specifications outlining deliverables in terms of mission configuration, autonomy, speed, and equipment, that information remaining classified; what is clear is that while in Phase 1 DANAE required a non-lethal, access denial and infrastructure protection configuration, which included a laser dazzler and a sonic deterrent, for Phase 2 a hard-kill effector is required. Hence the added presence of MBDA, which RX-50 VTOL loitering munition was visible on the FT80, which maintained the compact 1.2 metres antenna of the Horizon 200 Patrol X-band radar by Diadès Marine installed on a pyramidal framework located behind the helm station, and the Inpixal 4-axis stabilised OSEA 300 high-resolution thermal/day optronic sensor positioned on a roll bar at the stern of the vessel.

The other SEAir product exhibited at Euronaval the SP40; here the aim of the company was to develop an ultramobile and affordable system that could easily be transformed into a naval loitering munition. Currently the SP40 is teleoperated, however if needed it can be fitted with an autonomy package. The company envisages its use for intelligence and reconnaissance missions, access denial, electronic warfare, surface warfare, covert tracking, and deception, the SP40 being used as a decoy. The product visible at Euronaval was in fact a model; many engineering components were designed and produced in-house, and the risk of competitors having a too close look at the new naval drone was too high to bring the real boat. In particular, the rear propulsion system was well hidden, and no detail was provided apart from the fact that it is hydrojet-based. A video was shown, the boat being currently under testing, some 15 runs having been done; it was interesting observing how much the foils move while the SP40 navigates at speed, EDR On-Line understanding that this elasticity allows reducing induced movements and vibrations, acting as a sort of shock absorber, the entry-level camera installed on the boat showing quite a stable image. A sharp turn at 30 knots showed considerable stability, foils also allowing flat turns to be performed.

The SP40 is 4.7 metres long, its beam and draft varying depending on foils positioning; with foils extended the boat has a 2.62 metres beam and a 0.40 metres draft, while with foils retracted these data become respectively 1.05 and 1.10 metres. Cruise and top speed are both over 30 knots, while range is over 200 NM. The gross mass of the SP40 is 400 kg, which includes the 80 kg payload. It can operate with Sea State 4 and can be easily transported into a container. SEAir considers the SP40 a ready item and should start production at any time. EDR On-Line understood the company, which has around 20 employees overall, is mostly a prototyping company, but should it launch a considerable serial production it has already identified the right partners.