The production follows the establishment of the joint venture Rheinmetall Kraken GmbH, formed by Rheinmetall Naval Systems and Kraken Technology Group. The partnership aims to address growing global demand for market-ready unmanned maritime platforms.
The Kraken K3 Scout is designed for both military and civilian applications, depending on configuration. It can be deployed for maritime surveillance, protection of critical infrastructure or as a weapons carrier in military operations.
The vessels measure 8.4 metres in length and are capable of speeds of up to 55 knots. They are designed to be individually configurable to meet different operational requirements.
Production is taking place at the Blohm+Voss shipyard, which Rheinmetall is developing into a test and technology centre for unmanned and autonomous marine systems in Germany. The site is intended to support further innovation and integration of such technologies.
Tim Wagner, Chief Executive Officer of Rheinmetall’s Naval Systems division, said: “Production of the Kraken K3 Scout is initially designed for around 200 units per year.” He added: “Depending on the order volume, we can scale up production to as many as 1,000 units annually.”
The Naval Systems division operates across five locations in Germany and specialises in complex naval and coastguard vessels. It is also involved in the development of unmanned and autonomous surface systems.
Mal Crease, Chief Executive Officer of Kraken Technology Group, said: “The formation of Rheinmetall Kraken GmbH combines the scale, expertise and reach of a longstanding defence leader with an agile, innovative maritime technology company.” He added: “This will ensure that production of Kraken’s K3 Scout can scale to meet exponentially growing operational requirements.”
Kraken Technology Group develops high-performance unmanned maritime systems with a focus on cost efficiency. Through the joint venture, the company gains access to Rheinmetall’s production and system integration capabilities.
