Germany Receives Israeli Unmanned Underwater Vehicle

Report Content

According to a report by Reference News on February 28, Agence France-Presse reported on February 25 that the German Navy announced on the 25th that it has received an Israeli-made "Blue Whale" unmanned underwater vehicle, which will be used for reconnaissance and detecting "hybrid threats at sea."

The Navy stated in a press release that the autonomous underwater vehicle, developed jointly by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and German submarine and warship manufacturer ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), has been received at the northern port of Eckernförde.

The German military stated on its official website that the "Blue Whale" is the Navy's "largest and most advanced unmanned underwater vehicle to date."

The German military said that the device has been tested in the Baltic Sea. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Baltic Sea has been a hotspot for rising tensions between Russia and NATO.

TKMS stated that the "Blue Whale" is capable of "performing reconnaissance missions, detecting targets above and below the sea surface, collecting acoustic information, and locating underwater mines." (Translated by Zhu Jie)

Classification
Region
Europe
Analytical Domain
Operational
Primary Category / Secondary Categories
Weapons & Equipment / ISR Activity
Subcategory
Drone/UAV
SALUTE Report
Size
1 unmanned underwater vehicle
Activity
Germany received an Israeli-made unmanned underwater vehicle for reconnaissance and detection of maritime threats
Location
Eckernförde · Baltic Sea · Germany
Unit
German Navy
Time
February 25
Equipment
Blue Whale unmanned underwater vehicle
Summary

Germany received an Israeli-made 'Blue Whale' unmanned underwater vehicle on February 25, intended for reconnaissance and detection of maritime threats. The German Navy announced the acquisition at the northern port of Eckernförde, where the vehicle will be utilized. This advanced underwater vehicle has been tested in the Baltic Sea, a region of heightened tensions between Russia and NATO.

Key Facts
  • Germany received an Israeli-made 'Blue Whale' unmanned underwater vehicle on February 25.
  • The vehicle will be used for reconnaissance and detecting maritime threats.
  • It was developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and TKMS.
  • The vehicle has been tested in the Baltic Sea.
  • The Baltic Sea is a hotspot for tensions between Russia and NATO.