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German Firms Complete Sea Trials of Torpedo-Tube-Launched Drone Boat

The tests show submarines can launch small autonomous surface drones that gather intelligence without surfacing the host vessel.

Overview

  • GABLER and FLANQ completed Sea Acceptance Testing for the Ranger demonstrator in June 2026, validating seaworthiness and core system performance during at-sea trials.
  • Ranger is a 4.5‑metre uncrewed surface vessel built to fit a standard 21‑inch (533 mm) submarine torpedo tube and is rated to survive depths of about 300 metres.
  • The vehicle uses a folding keel and retractable sensor mast plus a quiet electric drive to deploy from underwater, autonomously surface, and carry mission-configurable sensor payloads for ISR tasks.
  • GABLER will lead commercialization and host-platform integration as development moves toward operational capability and the partners are advancing a one-way-attack variant called Strike.
  • The programme moved from concept in September 2025 to proof-of-concept in roughly ten months by using commercial components, AI-enabled autonomy, and open architectures to offer navies lower-cost, attritable ways to extend submarine reach.