France Orders UCUV Underwater Drone Demonstrator Built for Long Missions Without Remote Control

France's Defence Innovation Agency ordered an operational UCUV underwater combat-drone demonstrator from Naval Group on November 3, 2026, with sea trials scheduled to start in 2028. The programme builds on the company's self-funded extra-large underwater vehicle testbed and an existing DGA framework agreement. Naval Group's Steeris OB onboard autonomy will support extended missions without continuous remote control, including route replanning and responses to changing conditions under human supervision. Intended roles include surveillance, underwater detection, infrastructure protection and deployment of smaller underwater drones, while the demonstrator's final dimensions, energy system and weapons configuration remain undisclosed.