Kraken Robotics has announced the successful demonstration of its KATFISH Unmanned Surface Vessel Launch and Recovery System (USV-LARS) integrated with TKMS ATLAS UK’s 11-meter ARCIMS USV. The demonstration, conducted for NATO navies off the UK coast, proves a new, agile mine countermeasure and seabed survey capability.
The KATFISH system is a high-resolution, 300-meter depth-rated synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) towfish. The newly demonstrated USV-LARS allows it to be autonomously launched and recovered from small robotic vessels like the ARCIMS, creating a completely unmanned survey package. During the demonstration in sea state three conditions, the ARCIMS USV autonomously executed missions while the deployed KATFISH collected very high-resolution (3 cm x 3 cm) SAS and bathymetric data in shallow water, live-streaming it via satellite to a shore-based command center.
“This integration is a significant force multiplier,” said Greg Reid, President and CEO of Kraken Robotics. “It allows small naval platforms to deploy our best-in-class SAS technology, dramatically expanding their surveillance and mine-hunting reach without risking larger crewed vessels.”
A key achievement was the speed of integration. The KATFISH LARS, built with a titanium frame for low weight and magnetic signature, was designed to fit the ARCIMS’ common deck interface. From initial integration to successful at-sea demonstration took just two weeks, highlighting the system’s modularity and readiness.
Wesley Galliver, Head of Surface Ship Systems Division at TKMS ATLAS UK, stated, “This sets a new benchmark for delivering operational capability. Combining ARCIMS’ proven autonomy with Kraken’s cutting-edge sonar creates a rapidly deployable, cost-effective solution for modern navies.”
The joint solution addresses growing demand for unmanned systems in maritime security, particularly for mine countermeasures and critical infrastructure inspection. By making high-powered SAS technology deployable from small, air-portable USVs, the partnership offers navies a faster, more flexible, and safer method to secure increasingly complex maritime environments.
