French maritime robotics specialist Exail has signed two new contracts for its DriX H-9 autonomous surface drone, expanding its use in naval defense and hydrographic operations.
The first agreement comes from the innovation branch of an undisclosed navy and involves outfitting the DriX H-9 with a third-party counter-drone system. The integrated capability will allow the vessel to identify, track, and defeat hostile aerial unmanned threats.
Originally designed for ground platforms, the counter-UAS solution is being maritime-adapted to extend air defense coverage offshore. Expected use cases include protecting naval fleets, escorting high-value ships, securing ports, and defending critical maritime infrastructure.
The second contract was placed by the French Navy’s Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOM) and represents its second acquisition of a DriX platform. The system will support faster and more efficient seabed surveys, improving navigation safety and maritime space governance.
With these deals, Exail has now received three DriX H-9 orders in recent months, and the company reports that further surface drone contracts are under final negotiation for delivery starting in 2026.
The 9-meter DriX H-9 is engineered for long-endurance missions, powered by a diesel engine and carrying up to 550 liters of fuel. It can achieve speeds of 13 knots, remain at sea for up to 20 days, and cover approximately 2,000 nautical miles.
Designed for ease of deployment, the vessel fits inside a standard 40-foot shipping container and is controlled via an advanced human-machine interface that provides continuous insight into mission status, system health, sensor setup, and operational alerts.
Its modular payload design allows rapid integration of sensors and equipment for hydrography, scientific studies, subsea inspection, exploration, and infrastructure surveillance. The platform also supports towing operations and can deploy towed underwater vehicles, with multibeam echosounders enabling seabed mapping down to depths of about 3,000 meters.
