Stark Unveils Uncrewed Vessel to Guard Undersea Cables
The 24-meter Vanta 24 is announced for a launch next year, aimed at tracking Russia's shadow fleet in European waters.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Startups
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Berlin-based startup Stark Defence plans to launch its 24-meter uncrewed surface vessel, the Vanta 24, next year, according to an announcement made Tuesday at Bloomberg Tech London. The vessel is announced and in development rather than shipped.
Why it matters
European officials are increasingly alarmed by Russia's hybrid warfare campaign, including cyberattacks, drone incursions and suspected sabotage of key infrastructure. Stark is positioning the Vanta 24 to address a potential new battleground in the Baltic and North seas, where undersea cables and shadow fleet tankers are a growing concern.
The Vanta 24 is specified at 24 meters in length with a 50-metric-ton maximum payload and a speed above 40 mph without a crew aboard. Stark's electronic warfare sensor is reported to detect transmitters and radars up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) away, though these figures are company-stated and not independently verified.
The players
Stark Defence
A Berlin-based German defense startup building strike drones, electronic warfare sensors and a software platform linking unmanned systems, now valued at €3.2 billion.
Stephen Brian
A former nuclear submarine commander for the British Royal Navy who now runs Stark's naval operations.
Founders Fund
A venture capital firm that co-led Stark's €500 million funding round in June.
The details
Stark plans to develop the Vanta 24 in the UK and Germany, and its software platform is designed to let unmanned drones and vessels communicate with one another. That software could potentially link with weapons from competing suppliers, which would let an uncrewed fleet share information across different hardware. The company's electronic warfare sensor detects radio transmitters and radar emissions, allowing a vessel to locate sources of signal activity at long range.
Timeline
Stark formed in 2024 to make strike drones.
In June, Stark reached a €3.2 billion valuation after a €500 million round co-led by Founders Fund.
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, Stark announced the Vanta 24 at Bloomberg Tech London.
The Vanta 24 is planned to launch next year.
The Tech Race
Stark and Helsing each received contracts worth roughly €270 million from the German army, which is now training on both companies' attack drones this month. Stark's Vanta 24 moves the competition into uncrewed naval systems, a segment where Stark says it is building for the Baltic and North seas.
The Vanta 24 is not yet available, and Stark has not published pricing or a firm delivery date beyond next year. For most readers the change will show up indirectly, through defense procurement and naval surveillance of undersea infrastructure rather than through any consumer product.
The takeaway
Watch whether Stark delivers the Vanta 24 on its next-year schedule and whether its software links with competing suppliers' weapons as described. Both claims will show whether uncrewed naval systems can move from announcement to deployment in the Baltic and North seas.
What happens next
The Vanta 24 is planned to launch next year, and the German army's training on Stark and Helsing attack drones is underway this month.
Further reading
For more on how young defense companies are reshaping military procurement, explore the Startups section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by GCaptain.
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