UTEK has positioned itself as the entity with the most operational unmanned vessels in this year's REPMUS and DYNAMIC MESSENGER exercises, which are taking place near the Troia Naval Base (Portugal).
During the first week of September, UTEK deployed a total of 19 “KAIN” vessels to the Troia Naval Base. These vessels are being used in a variety of exercises, although their primary purpose is to serve as targets for destruction during live-fire training. These USVs are part of a contract UTEK won to provide a service to NATO ACT as part of NATO’s Task Force X Maritime Autonomous Systems Fleet initiative. Operationally, the vessels are under the aegis of the NATO Maritime Command (MARCOM) and part of the organization led by the Portuguese Navy.
The “KAIN” USVs are highly reliable and high-performance, capable of reaching top speeds of nearly 50 knots thanks to their 200-hp Mercury DTS V6 engines. The USVs are based on vessels manufactured by Vanguard and specially adapted for this application.
In addition to the “KAIN” USVs, UTEK is contributing its “KALUGA” USV for the fifth consecutive year, this time under the control and coordination of the Spanish Navy.
Participation in this exercise is a major challenge for the company, as it has had to develop the 19 USVs in just four months, which has allowed it to demonstrate its serial production capacity and the management of all associated logistics.
UTEK is also responsible for operating the USVs during the exercise under the supervision of MARCOM and the Exercise Command, which is posing an additional challenge.
From a business development perspective, several participating navies have shown interest in the “KAIN” targets, reinforcing the international positioning of UTEK products.
