A new joint venture between British defense firm Kraken Technology and German shipbuilder NVL Group has been announced to push forward the development and mass production of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs). The initiative responds to the growing international demand for autonomous naval platforms, designed for tasks ranging from defense missions to civilian infrastructure protection.
Under the agreement, NVL Group will provide its strengths in naval systems manufacturing and integration, while Kraken Technology will contribute its high-performance, low-cost autonomy solutions. The partnership is intended to create flexible vessels that can be scaled to different operational requirements.
NVL has already made a capital investment in Kraken and holds the option to participate in an additional funding round in Q4 2025, underscoring its commitment to long-term cooperation.
Production activities will be shared between NVL’s Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg and Kraken’s UK facilities, ensuring strong coverage across Europe. The venture expects to deliver its first autonomous vessels later this year, starting with small-scale platforms and expanding to larger ships over time.
