US-based Vatn Systems has secured $60 million in Series A investment to expand its autonomous underwater vehicle manufacturing and technology development, reinforcing the accelerating shift toward uncrewed naval platforms. The funding will support growing demand from the US Department of Defense, allied navies, and commercial maritime operators.
The round was spearheaded by BVVC and attracted high-profile new investors, including Hanwha, Airbus Ventures, Geodesic Capital, Dauntless Ventures, Trousdale Ventures, and Veteran Ventures Capital. Returning investors such as Lockheed Martin Ventures, SAIC Ventures, DYNE Ventures, Propeller Ventures, and Decisive Point Ventures also participated, increasing the company’s total capital raised to $76.5 million.
Globally, autonomous and unmanned underwater vehicles are playing an increasingly vital role in naval operations, offering cost-effective solutions for persistent surveillance, mine warfare, seabed reconnaissance, and intelligence missions. The US Navy and DIU have accelerated investments in AUV technologies to strengthen undersea situational awareness and operational reach.
Notable programs include Kongsberg Discovery’s HUGIN AUV family, which has undergone extensive testing for long-endurance missions, as well as Anduril’s Dive-LD AUV, selected for prototype development. Additionally, Oceaneering’s Freedom AUV is being built to support advanced sensing in complex undersea environments, underscoring strong momentum behind autonomous maritime capabilities across the defense sector.
