The vessels searched a designated area using onboard radar, cameras and Automatic Identification System data. After identifying a vessel of interest, they tracked and escorted it from the area, then adjusted their plans and resumed the search.
“This collaboration with Kraken demonstrates how Hivemind enables autonomous maritime teams to operate as part of a larger, distributed force,” said Christian Gutierrez, Shield AI’s senior vice president of Hivemind. The companies said operators retained authority over decisions while the vessels shared sensor data and coordinated their movements.
Shield AI + @KrakenTechGroup: autonomous maritime teaming on British-built USVs
Powered by Hivemind, two Kraken K3 SCOUT USVs searched an area, tracked and escorted a vessel of interest, then replanned the mission as one team. Our AI pilot enables autonomous vessels to share… pic.twitter.com/lzOGqRjfwi
— Shield AI (@shieldaitech) September 28, 2026
Kraken’s 8.4-meter K3 SCOUT can travel at up to 55 knots and carry a 600-kilogram payload. The company said it recently delivered 20 of the vessels to the Royal Navy under Project BEEHIVE.
“K3 SCOUT was designed to be a fully modular and interoperable capability; the successful integration of Hivemind onto K3 SCOUT further validates our technology,” said Kraken Chief Executive Mal Crease. Shield AI and Kraken said they plan further trials in contested environments with UK and NATO partners over the coming year.
