Since the Ukrainian Defense Forces began actively deploying surface drones against russian occupation forces, more and more countries have started paying attention to this capability and are planning to enhance their fleets with similar systems.
One such country is Germany, whose navy recently published a tender for testing unmanned surface vehicles as part of the broader Future Combat Surface System (FCSS) program. This initiative was announced in the strategic document Kurs Marine 2035+, as reported by Defense Archives.
Read more: Ukrainian Magura V5 Drone Swarms Break Through, Overloading russian Defenses with New Upgrades
As part of the FCSS program, Germany aims not only to supplement its fleet with surface drones but also to explore the possibility of replacing certain vessel types, particularly the K130 corvettes, in specific scenarios. According to available documents, Germany envisions surface drones operating both independently and as part of mixed manned-unmanned groups.
The published tender specifies that tests will be conducted in the Baltic Sea, with each prototype undergoing trials for approximately one week. These tests are expected to take place in the fall of this year—most likely in September, October, or November. The primary objectives are to evaluate the capabilities and limitations of unmanned systems, assess their endurance over long distances, verify autonomous functions, and test the integration of situational awareness data into combat management systems.
The tender also outlines the minimum requirements for participating unmanned surface systems. Specifically, they must be fully functional, autonomous technologies capable of waypoint-based navigation, remote control, and operations with minimal human intervention. Additionally, they must feature collision avoidance systems.
Tactical and Technical Requirements:
- Endurance: At least 5 days
- Range: Minimum 300 nautical miles
- Speed: 38 knots
- Payload capacity: 6 tons
- Armament: At least one 30mm cannon and the ability to carry loitering munitions or missiles
- Reconnaissance & situational awareness systems
Read more: Germany Updates Military Aid List for Ukraine: Gepard, Vector Drones, and Ammunition
