Leading navy selects Exail inertial navigation systems for its fleet of uncrewed surface vessels

Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France, October 21, 2026 – A leading navy has selected Exail’s high-performance, military-grade Marins inertial navigation systems (INS) to equip its complete fleet of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs). This major contract strengthens Exail’s navigation position in the expanding defense USV market, where resilient navigation is becoming critical to the deployment of autonomous naval capabilities.

As navies integrate more USVs into their fleets to extend their operational reach, reduce crew exposure and maintain a persistent presence at sea, they face a fundamental challenge: enabling these platforms to navigate reliably without an onboard crew. Autonomous operations depend on navigation information that remains accurate, available and trusted throughout the mission, enabling vessels to operate safely and effectively without continuous human oversight. This requirement becomes even more critical in contested environments, where GNSS signals may be degraded, jammed or spoofed.

Selected to address these requirements, Exail’s Marins INS will provide precise position, heading, attitude and velocity data, delivering the reliable navigation information required for autonomous operations while supporting mission continuity when satellite signals are disrupted. Already proven aboard defense surface vessels, submarines and UUVs, Exail’s Marins Series bring established naval navigation capabilities to this new generation of uncrewed platforms.

“Navies are moving towards fleets where crewed and uncrewed vessels operate alongside one another. But deploying USVs at scale requires more than autonomous platforms: it requires trusted navigation technologies capable of meeting demanding defense requirements,” said Jean-Marc Binois, CCO at Exail. “Our strength lies in combining proven defense navigation technologies with first-hand experience of designing and integrating autonomous maritime systems. This dual expertise gives us a unique understanding of the navigation challenges facing uncrewed platforms, positioning Exail to meet the evolving needs of defense USV fleets.”

Based on Exail’s proven Fiber-Optic Gyroscope (FOG) technology, Marins navigation systems are deployed across surface vessels and submarines operated by more than 50 navies worldwide, demonstrating a proven track record in demanding naval environments. Exail’s navigation technologies also equip 80% of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), operating in environments where GNSS signals are unavailable.

As navies accelerate the deployment of uncrewed surface vessels, the demand for navigation technologies combining defense-grade performance, resilience and seamless integration into autonomous platforms is set to grow. Drawing on its established track record and expertise in maritime robotics, Exail is well positioned to address these evolving requirements.

photo courtesy Exail