VIDEO: Exail Bags Multi-Million-Euro MCM Drone Deal

An unnamed “leading navy” has placed a multi-million-Euro order with Exail to enhance its mine countermeasures (MCM) capabilities with a fleet of drones.

As per a recent company press statement, Exail will be providing ”several autonomous drone systems for combating underwater mines.”

It said it may reveal the identity of the purchasing navy and the precise size of the contract at a later date if the customer agreed, and that it expected to deliver the order over the next four years.

It described the deal, which runs to “hundreds of millions of Euros” as “transformative for Exail in terms of size and positioning to win other upcoming programs around the world.”

Watch a video showcasing Exail’s UMIS system

Under the terms of the agreement the firm will be supplying a variety of different types of drones from the group's existing range. Its Unmanned MCM Integrated System (UMIS) “toolbox” includes the Inspector 125 and Inspector 90 USVs, the T18-M towed sonar, the Seascan and K-Ster ROVs, and the A9-M and A18-M AUVs. 

These are all integrated into its Umisoft command-and control (C2) system which can control Exail uncrewed assets as well as third-party UAVs.

Exail's MCM systems are already used by the Belgian and Royal Dutch Navies as part of their rMCM programme, and as per the Exail website several other European and Middle Eastern navies have also “chosen UMIS for their MCM operations.”

The firm noted: “As soon as the contract comes into force, the group's order book will exceed the threshold of one billion euros” adding that this marked a tenfold increase over “a few years.”

• You can read more details on the Exail website