Rheinmetall Kraken GmbH has begun series production of the Kraken K3 Scout unmanned surface vessel at Rheinmetall’s Blohm+Voss site in Hamburg. The company is a joint venture between Rheinmetall Naval Systems and British technology company Kraken Technology Group. The Kraken K3 Scout is an 8.4-metre unmanned surface vessel that can reach speeds of up to 55 knots. Rheinmetall said the platform can be configured for maritime surveillance, protection of critical infrastructure or use as a weapons carrier in military operations.
Production is initially designed for around 200 units per year, according to Tim Wagner, chief executive of Rheinmetall’s Naval Systems division. Wagner said output could be scaled to as many as 1,000 units annually depending on order volume. The systems are being produced at Blohm+Voss in Hamburg, where Rheinmetall is developing a test and technology centre for unmanned and autonomous marine systems. The company’s Naval Systems division has five locations in Germany and works on naval and coast guard vessels as well as unmanned surface systems.
Mal Crease, CEO of Kraken Technology Group said: “The formation of Rheinmetall Kraken GmbH combines the scale, expertise and reach of a longstanding defence leader with an agile, innovative maritime technology company. This will ensure that production of Kraken’s K3 Scout can scale to meet exponentially growing operational requirements.”
