Kraken Robotic, has successfully integrated and demonstrated its KATFISH towed synthetic aperture sonar with an autonomous launch and recovery system (LARS) on SEFINE’s RD-22 unmanned surface vessel (USV). The Q1 2026 demonstration off Istanbul, Türkiye, was coordinated with SEFINE SISAM, the Strategic Unmanned Systems Research Center.
“Recent developments highlight the need to protect critical maritime routes and underwater infrastructure,” said Bernard Mills, Executive Vice President, Defence at Kraken Robotics. “Autonomous mine countermeasure capabilities like KATFISH help navies efficiently detect and classify mine-like objects. Combining SEFINE’s multi-role USV with Kraken’s KATFISH and USV LARS allows navies to deploy advanced technologies faster, strengthening defence and maritime security.”
The live demonstration focused on rapid detection and classification of mine-like objects and critical underwater infrastructure, with multiple navies and government organizations in attendance. KATFISH delivered 3 cm x 3 cm resolution data at a 200-meter range per side, live-streamed to an onshore command center. Operators used SEFINE SISAM’s mission planning software for real-time classification of contacts.
The same KATFISH and USV LARS were previously demonstrated from a UK Royal Navy in-service 11-meter ARCIMS USV in November 2025. These integrations mark a significant advance in delivering agile, modular, and cost-effective mine countermeasure capabilities for modern naval operations.
