Underwater drone Blue Whale: German Navy aims to introduce IAI and Atlas Elektronik system quickly

According to recent reports, the underwater drone Blue Whale, offered by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Atlas Elektronik, is to enter service with the German Navy as quickly as possible. For the naval forces, this is an interesting development.

Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, Chief of the German Navy, recently described the system as the “first choice” following successful trials. This suggests that the test results exceeded expectations.

According to media reports, the introduction of the system is currently being examined – possibly in limited numbers at first, before a more extensive procurement follows. Kaack, however, is critical: despite positive test results, innovative technologies often get stuck in the so-called “valley of death” because existing processes prevent rapid integration. He therefore advocates greater autonomy for the Navy, including in financial matters.

Underwater drone to complement the submarines

The Navy is expected to introduce a total of six Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (LUUV). The plan is for these unmanned underwater systems to complement the crewed Type 212 CD submarines and primarily take on reconnaissance missions.