Euronaval 2026: MAC HUB showcases Katran USV, confirms memorandum of cooperation with Ocea

MAC HUB Katran X1 USV on display at Euronaval 2026. (Janes/Neil Dee)

Ukrainian unmanned systems company MAC HUB showcased their Katran unmanned surface vehicle (USV) at the Euronaval 2026 exhibition, held in Paris from 3-6 November. The company also confirmed a memorandum of cooperation with French shipbuilder Ocea.

Speaking to Janes at Euronaval on 3 November, a MAC HUB company representative detailed three variants of Katran: X1, X1.2, and X3. The USVs are of fibreglass construction and are controlled using satellite communications (satcom). The 7.7 m Katran X1 was the first USV developed by MAC HUB. X1 is a one-way-attack USV, with a 500 kg maximum payload. The USV can also launch quadcopter first-person-view (FPV) or fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

A second generation, Katran X1.2, 9.5 m long, can have several configurations, depending on the mission. In contrast to X1, the UAV launch containers on X1.2 are integrated into the hull. MAC HUB said that this design choice improves the USV's aerodynamics and allows for modular integrations, an increased capacity of embarked UAVs, and for weapon integrations to be tailored to the mission.

X1.2 can be equipped with up to 23 MAC HUB Dead Fly 450 FPV UAVs for counter-UAV (C-UAV) tasks. Dead Fly has a maximum speed of 450 km/h, allowing it to intercept Geran-5 jet powered loitering munitions at the latter's cruising speed of around 400 km/h, the representative said. Other integrations can include up to 33 MAC Thunder FPV UAVs, relay UAVs, two R-73 surface-to-air-missiles, or a machine gun. Finally, X3 is a smaller version of X1, at 6.5 m with a 300 kg maximum-size warhead.