REPMUS 2026: Stark unveils Vanta 12 USV with Sea Venom anti-ship missile capability

Stark Vanta 12 USV. The USV was tested at Exercise REPMUS 26. (Stark)

Germany-UK company Stark trialled its Vanta 12 unmanned surface vehicle (USV) at NATO Exercise ‘REPMUS 26' (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping with Maritime Unmanned Systems) which took place from 31 August to 25 September 2026 in Portugal. The company formally announced the launch of Vanta 12 in a press release on Monday 28 September 2026.

Vanta 12 is a 12 m long modular USV. It can be equipped with MBDA's Sea Venom anti-ship missile, mounted on the stern, plus Stark's Cascade loitering munitions, mounted forward. Surveillance systems and jammers for electronic warfare can also be carried, according to Stark. Roles can include anti-submarine warfare (ASW). Vanta 12 has a range of 1,200 n miles, can operate at sprint speeds of over 40 kt, according to the company, and function at sea for weeks at a time, according to the company.

Stark said that the USV operated alongside conventional manned vessels and other USVs at REPMUS 26. Vanta 12 also participated in simulated combat missions during the exercise. The USV is designed to be mass produced, Stark said, and follows the company's Vanta 4 and Vanta 6 models, which were revealed in September 2025.

Speaking to media at REPMUS on 22 September 2026, Stephen Brian, maritime director at Stark, said that the company had integrated an emulation model of Sea Venom on Vanta 12 to prove the concept. Up to four Sea Venoms, and 10 Cascades can be embarked for a “high-low” mix of munitions, Brian said. This allows for a “corvette-sized punch, at a price point at a fraction of the cost of a corvette”, he added.