Euronaval 2026 – SeaOwl and KNDS unveil swarm-capable Tracus Combat USV

The Ukrainian conflict highlighted the effectiveness of armed and suicide unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) in today maritime warfare. At Euronaval several effectors of that type where exhibited, and among them the Tracus Combat unveiled by SeaOwl, which first business in the military world was mostly related to training. In the past years a training oriented Tracus was developed, based on a jet-ski, and was used in the last three years by the French Navy for training crews manning machine guns and cannons to defeat incoming USVs. At the Paris exhibition SeaOwl showcased its Tracus Combat in its booth, which warhead was exhibited nearby in the KNDS stand

When SeaOwl decided to develop a combat USV it started the design from a white sheet, leaving behind it the jet-ski based Tracus Training experience for all but one thing: the core of the software managing the vehicle. This had of course to be adapted to the new hydrodynamic behaviour, to the new role, but what had been developed remained, duly integrated by the underlying software allowing swarm operations, EDR On-Line understanding that this can control several Tracus Combat, probably around 10.

The new hull is 3.25 metres long and has a beam of 1.25 metres. Powered by a hydrojet, it can reach a maximum speed in excess of 40 knots, with a range of over 150 NM. The top front part hosts the autonomy elements and the mission package, while at the rear we follow the satellite link, which allows operations over the horizon, and a mast carrying the optronic suite, with a day camera and/or a thermal camera, and the radio link antenna.

click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge

The mission package is plug and play and can be made of electronic warfare passive and active systems, such as jammers, visual, thermal, and radar decoys, used in soft-kill operations including deception ones, ISR (intelligence, surveillance reconnaissance) payloads, and of course explosive payload when Tracus Combat is used as a naval loitering munition.

In the latter case the SeaOwl USV hosts a 30 kg warhead designed, developed, and produced by KNDS. This is available in two variants, a high explosive fragmentation (WH-30K FRAG-E), like the model exhibited at Euronaval, or as a shaped charge; in the first case the RDX/TNT warhead with pre-forged fragments would be use against swarms of incoming USVs, the blast effect adding to fragmentation in neutralising them, while the second variant is aimed at destroying high-value targets such as major combatant ships, opening a wide breach in their steel hulls. KNDS also developed the safe and arm device, which allow to safely retrieve the USV should it abort the attack mission, as the ignition chain can retrace its steps and bring back the system to safe status.

At Euronaval SeaOwl also exhibited the Sealancer, 4 metres long box, 1.1 metres wide and 1.2 metres high, which constitutes the Tracus Combat launch system. Installed on a ship with an around 10° inclination towards the sea, it hosts one USV which is pushed along rollers thanks to a pneumatic system that provides an appropriate impulse to eject it at sufficient distance from the ship’s side to avoid any impact. The Sealancer allow ejecting the Tracus from a maximum height of 7 metres. The gross mass of the launch system, including the around 400 kg of the USV, is 900 kg.

EDR On-Line understood that in this latest configuration the Tracus Combat has not yet been tested at sea, trials being scheduled at very short term.

Photos by P. Valpolini