Stark Defence, MBDA Tested Robotic Missile Carrier
The unmanned surface vessel demonstrated integrated anti-ship and loitering munition capabilities at Exercise REPMUS 2026.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Robotics
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Stark Defence and MBDA have successfully demonstrated a robotic missile platform carrying Sea Venom missiles and Cascade loitering munitions. The unmanned surface vessel prototype was tested during Exercise REPMUS 2026, which concluded in late September.
Why it matters
The development represents a shift toward autonomous naval platforms capable of deploying precision kinetic effects without crew risk. This integration marks a significant expansion in the tactical range and loadout versatility for uncrewed surface combatants.
The 12-meter vessel supports a payload of four 120 kg Sea Venom missiles—measuring 2.5 meters in length and 200 mm in diameter—and ten Cascade munitions, which feature a 5 kg warhead and 100-kilometer range. The craft is designed to sustain operations over a 1,200 nautical mile range at patrol speed.
The players
Stark Defence
A developer of autonomous naval platforms and uncrewed surface vehicles.
MBDA
A prime contractor specializing in complex missile systems and integrated defense solutions.
The details
The weapon system employs an aft box launcher to manage the larger anti-ship missiles and a forward launcher configured for the loitering munitions. Sea Venom missiles utilize a two-way data link, an electronic communication path, to allow for operator-in-the-loop control during flight. This mechanism ensures that the human operator can confirm targets or adjust trajectories in real-time through the data connection.
Timeline
October 2, 2025: Sea Venom missiles reached initial operating capability.
October 2025: Stark Defence conceived the unmanned surface vessel design.
Mid-2026: The vessel began initial sea trials.
September 25, 2026: Exercise REPMUS 2026 concluded in Tróia, Portugal.
2027: The vessel is scheduled to participate in Nordic autonomy exercises.
The Tech Race
The platform moves beyond standard reconnaissance roles by integrating established strike systems into autonomous surface combatants. It directly competes with ongoing efforts to shift missile-delivery hardware from manned platforms to scalable, uncrewed naval architectures.
Defense and maritime security operators will observe a move toward longer-range robotic patrols capable of 1,200 nautical miles per deployment. This shift suggests that future naval monitoring will increasingly rely on these vessel-munition combinations to provide persistent strike presence.
The takeaway
This integration demonstrates the feasibility of combining loitering munitions with conventional anti-ship missiles on a single robotic platform. Watch for performance data from the 2027 Nordic exercises to see if this dual-launcher architecture maintains stability in high-sea states.
What happens next
Stark Defence intends to deploy the unmanned vessel for additional autonomy testing at planned Nordic exercises throughout 2027.
Further reading
For broader trends in autonomous maritime hardware, browse our Robotics coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Baird Maritime.
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