Three downselected for next phase of France's DANAE USV project
SeaOwl Technology Solutions' Nemezis autonomy kit on a Zodiac Milpro EDO 4G MN RIB, downselected as one of of three in the French Navy's DANAE USV competition on 8 October 2026. (Minarm innovation partnership)
France's Defence Innovation Agency (AID) and the French Navy (Marine Nationale) have downselected three partners for the next phase of the DANAE (Drone de surface Autonome Naval avec capacité d'Armement Embarqué: Autonomous naval surface drone with onboard armament capability) unmanned surface vehicle (USV) programme.
Announcing the shortlist on 8 October 2026, the AID said that SeaOwl Technology Solutions, a consortium of SEAir, ÆGIR, MBDA and Diadès Marine, and a Sirehna-led team also including Naval Group and Chantier Naval Couach, would participate in the next phase of fast-track development and assessment. The downselection follows test and evaluation of a number of candidate USVs in early 2026.
Led by the AID and the French Navy, with the support of DGA Techniques navales (Direction générale de l'armement, France's defence procurement agency), the DANAE innovation partnership project has been established to rapidly develop and field a USV that will contribute to improved maritime security while also growing sovereign capability in USV design and technology. The selected design is intended to enter service with the Marine Nationale to undertake ship escort duties and port protection (both military and civil).
The initial phase of DANAE, performed from 19–23 January 2026 off Saint-Mandrier, saw seven different French-designed USV systems tested and evaluated in waters off the coast of Saint-Mandrier, near Toulon. The various designs were scored against metrics of navigation performance, endurance, and decision-making autonomy.
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