DSEI 2025: New S WISE underwater loitering system delivers autonomous missions with target recognition.

ARQUIMEA, a Spanish technology company active for more than two decades in defence and security, presents at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London on September 9th, a broad portfolio of smart loitering munition systems. The company brings together its land, naval and aerial solutions, positioning itself as one of the European providers advancing in this field. Alongside these systems, ARQUIMEA also exhibits developments in mortar control and information technologies.
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The S-WISE incorporates expanded autonomy, increased speed and the capacity to integrate both internal and external payloads. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Among the main announcements is the unveiling of S-WISE, an underwater naval loitering munition system intended for detecting, locating and neutralising maritime targets, as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations. Unlike conventional unmanned underwater vehicles, S-WISE incorporates expanded autonomy, increased speed and the capacity to integrate both internal and external payloads. It operates with onboard edge computing, remains autonomous for up to 24 hours, reaches more than 9 knots and covers up to 85 nautical miles. Its design enables the conduct of autonomous missions with integrated automatic target recognition. This solution follows ARQUIMEA’s acquisition of Perseo Techworks, a company specialised in unmanned naval platforms, which strengthens the firm’s portfolio in the maritime domain.

The relevance of S-WISE lies in its ability to extend naval forces’ reach without exposing crews to contested environments. By combining autonomy with automatic target recognition, the system reduces the cognitive and operational burden on operators, allowing missions to be conducted in areas where communication links are limited or denied. Its endurance and speed enable persistent surveillance of strategic waterways, while its capacity to carry multiple payloads supports both intelligence gathering and precision strikes. In real operational terms, this means naval units can secure chokepoints, monitor hostile activity and conduct denial missions more effectively, providing a cost-efficient alternative to deploying larger surface vessels or manned submarines in high-risk areas.

S-WISE complements Kronos, the remotely operated surface loitering munition vessel previously exhibited at Feindef, designed for medium-range naval missions with adaptable deployment and precision. Together, these systems extend ARQUIMEA’s coverage to both surface and subsurface operations. In the aerial domain, the company highlights the Q-SLAM family, including the Q-SLAM-100 with 120 minutes of autonomy, a 4 kg payload and the DeepArq AI platform for collaborative flights, target recognition and situational awareness. Alongside it, the lighter Q-SLAM-40 is already fielded for short-range missions. For ground forces, ARQUIMEA introduces Grifo, a modular multi-launcher capable of deploying five Q-SLAM-40s from a DUMA 8x8 Spectre vehicle, complemented by SkyBlock, a portable anti-drone jammer.

Beyond loitering munitions, ARQUIMEA presents its mortar and artillery fire control solutions. Techfire automates direct and indirect fire missions with real-time coordination and data processing, while eCOMPASS accelerates mortar aiming with precision and ease of use across calibres. Both systems are already deployed by several NATO forces. With this portfolio, ARQUIMEA expands across land, sea and air domains, and the unveiling of S-WISE at DSEI 2025 illustrates the growing role of autonomous loitering systems in modern operations.

Written by Matt Delvoye - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition

Matt Delvoye holds degrees in political science from the University of Liège and the University of Brussels, with a specialization in international relations as well as defense and security policy. He works as a defense analyst at Army Recognition, where he covers international defense events and provides daily reporting on military equipment and industry developments.