French UHSI32 MkII Unmanned Interceptor Vessel Validated for Littoral Strike Missions.

According to information published by CMN Naval at the end of July, 2025, a new live sea demonstration of the UHSI32 MkII unmanned high-speed interceptor vessel was conducted off the French coast. This pivotal test event, aimed at validating the operational maturity of the platform, was carried out in the presence of senior officials from the French Navy, alongside representatives from MTG Marinetechnik GmbH and German Naval Yards, a subsidiary of CMN Naval and joint developer of the unmanned platform. The UHSI32 MkII is designed and built by Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie (CMN), a long-standing French naval shipbuilder, with advanced autonomous navigation and mission systems provided by German specialist Anschuetz GmbH.
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The French UHSI32 MkII is a 32-meter unmanned interceptor boat with AI navigation, modular payloads, and speeds over 45 knots (Picture source : CMN).

During the demonstration, the UHSI32 MkII executed a series of advanced mission scenarios representative of real-world naval operations. These included autonomous coastal navigation under variable sea conditions, with full obstacle detection and avoidance in real-time, followed by a remote-controlled intercept and shadowing maneuver of a simulated surface threat. The vessel was entirely piloted and mission-managed from a land-based command and control center equipped with a secure digital interface allowing operators to oversee navigation, sensor fusion, and payload activation. The trial concluded with a high-speed dash at over 40 knots to demonstrate agility, propulsion responsiveness, and fuel efficiency under operational load, affirming the vessel’s ability to maintain persistent high-speed operations in littoral environments.

The UHSI32 MkII is a fully unmanned derivative of the combat-proven HSI32 MkII interceptor, re-engineered to operate autonomously or via remote control. The vessel measures 32 meters in length, with a lightweight hull constructed from advanced composite materials that significantly reduce radar signature and enhance hydrodynamic performance. It is powered by two high-output diesel engines coupled with waterjet propulsion, delivering top speeds in excess of 45 knots. The platform integrates Anschuetz’s latest-generation autonomous control suite, which includes artificial intelligence-assisted navigation, autonomous obstacle recognition, dynamic route planning, and machine learning algorithms to adapt to changing maritime environments. The onboard mission system allows integration of a broad range of sensors, including electro-optical/infrared turrets, surface search radars, AIS interceptors, and optional remotely operated weapon stations. Its modular deck allows the integration of mission-specific payloads such as boarding team support systems, electronic warfare kits, or vertical take-off UAV launchers.

The operational differences between the unmanned UHSI32 MkII and its manned predecessor, the HSI32 MkII, center primarily on crew risk reduction, mission endurance, and deployment flexibility. While both share the same high-speed, agile hull design and modular payload capacity, the unmanned variant is equipped with advanced autonomous navigation and remote control systems, allowing it to conduct missions without onboard personnel. This eliminates the physiological limitations of human crews, enabling the UHSI32 MkII to operate continuously for extended durations, including in high-risk or denied-access environments where manned vessels would face significant threats. Additionally, the absence of life-support systems, accommodation spaces, and manual control interfaces allows for a more optimized internal layout, potentially increasing payload volume and endurance. Tactically, the unmanned version can be deployed as a forward sensor, decoy, or interdiction asset with reduced political and operational consequences in contested waters, offering a more flexible and scalable tool for modern naval force projection.

From a tactical and operational standpoint, the UHSI32 MkII offers naval forces a capability to extend maritime presence and surveillance without exposing crews to high-risk environments. It can be deployed as a forward-deployed sensor node in maritime surveillance networks or as an autonomous interceptor for critical infrastructure protection, chokepoint security, and anti-smuggling operations. With its high-speed performance and low acoustic and radar signatures, the platform is particularly suited for green-water and littoral zones where traditional patrol craft face greater vulnerability. Furthermore, the UHSI32 MkII can operate in manned-unmanned teaming concepts, serving as an escort or scout for larger surface combatants, thereby multiplying fleet effectiveness and increasing operational tempo. Its ability to perform persistent surveillance missions over extended periods with reduced logistical footprint also offers advantages in terms of force optimization and budgetary efficiency.

The emergence and acceleration of unmanned surface vessel development is deeply rooted in today’s shifting maritime threat landscape. Rising regional tensions in strategic corridors such as the Strait of Hormuz, the South China Sea, the Black Sea, and the Eastern Mediterranean have underscored the need for constant maritime domain awareness, rapid response capabilities, and reduced exposure of personnel in volatile zones. In parallel, near-peer adversaries are deploying increasingly sophisticated A2/AD strategies that complicate the safe deployment of manned assets close to contested coastlines. As a result, NATO and allied navies are prioritizing unmanned maritime systems that offer stealth, flexibility, and persistent presence with minimal risk. In this broader context, platforms such as the UHSI32 MkII are no longer experimental, they are rapidly becoming integral components of modern fleet architecture, offering scalable, interoperable solutions for maritime security operations, asymmetric threat response, and digital battlefield integration.

With this successful live demonstration, CMN Naval underscores its leadership in the unmanned naval systems domain and signals its readiness to deliver an operational, export-ready capability to allied and partner navies worldwide. The UHSI32 MkII not only represents a technological leap in autonomous surface warfare but also embodies the shift in naval doctrine toward distributed, unmanned, and AI-enabled fleet operations designed to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s contested maritime environments.