Industrial company Exail has completed the first sale of its DriX O-16, an advanced transoceanic uncrewed surface vessel (USV).
The vessel has been acquired by a client in the Indo-Pacific region, operating within the civil sector.
The DriX O-16 has a length of 15.75m, a displacement of 10.5t, and an endurance of up to 30 days.
Designed specifically for long-duration operations, it has twice the length and five times the displacement of Exail’s DriX H-8 USV.
The DriX O-16 was unveiled at Oceanology International in London and first put to work in May 2024 in La Ciotat, South of France.
The dual propulsion vessel can reach speeds of up to 16kt, has a fuel capacity of 2,300 litres, and a range of 3,500nm.
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By GlobalDataExail’s maritime autonomy solutions vice president Olivier Cervantes said: “The sale of our first DriX O-16 so close to its debut is a testament to the trust our clients place in Exail’s forward-thinking approach to maritime autonomy.
“The vessel quickly set new benchmarks in efficiency, endurance, and flexibility, securing the customer’s confidence just three months after its christening.
“With its unparalleled combination of speed, endurance, and payload capacity, the DriX O-16 represents a groundbreaking step forward in uncrewed surface vessel technology,” he claimed.
The vessel is equipped with advanced sensors, including a full-depth multibeam echo sounder, enabling operators to collect precise data for various tasks such as hydrographic, geophysical, and environmental surveys.
The vessel’s developer said it can deploy a wide range of payloads and subsea assets, including multibeam echo sounders, sub-bottom profilers, and acoustic subsea positioning and communication systems.
