SEAir, a French maritime innovation firm, has launched a €7.5 million ($8.6 million) EU-funded project to develop ARROW—an autonomous, hydrofoil-equipped surface vessel. Scheduled for delivery by 2028, the vessel was presented in Brussels under the coordination of the European Defence Agency.
The 12-meter ARROW is engineered for both uncrewed and manned use, offering high speed (up to 45 knots) and extended range (400 nautical miles). It aims to cut fuel use by 50%, minimize wake, and perform efficiently in stealth maritime missions.
A 10-member consortium led by SEAir includes eight SMEs and two research organizations from eight EU states. Notable participants include Sierra Tango, Maxwell Applied Tech, and academic partners like Riga Technical University.
The project forms part of the EU’s €910 million European Defence Fund investment, targeting defense innovation and border security. Nearly €369 million supports research, while €539 million is directed to product development—marking the first time Ukrainian firms are included in EDF-backed initiatives.
