Kraken Robotics Demonstrates Sonar System Launch from Unmanned Vessel

Kraken Robotics has successfully integrated and demonstrated its KATFISH towed synthetic aperture sonar and autonomous launch and recovery system (LARS) from SEFINE's RD-22 unmanned surface vessel (USV), in coordination with SEFINE SISAM (Strategic Unmanned Systems Research Center). The demonstration took place in Q1 2026 off the coast of İstanbul, Türkiye.

The demonstration focused on rapid detection and classification of mine-like objects and critical underwater infrastructure, with attendance from several navies and government organizations. The KATFISH system delivered data with 3 cm x 3 cm resolution at a range of 200 meters per side. This data was live-streamed to an onshore command center, enabling real-time classification of contacts by operators using SEFINE SISAM's mission planning software.

Bernard Mills, Kraken's Executive Vice President for Defence, highlighted the significance of the integration. "Autonomous mine countermeasure capabilities like KATFISH can play an important role in helping navies efficiently detect and classify mine-like objects. By combining SEFINE’s multi-role USV with Kraken’s cutting-edge KATFISH and USV LARS, navies can deploy advanced technologies faster and more efficiently," Mills stated.

This integration follows a similar demonstration of the KATFISH and USV LARS from a UK Royal Navy ARCIMS USV in November 2025. Kraken Robotics states these combined integrations represent a significant step forward in delivering agile, modular, and cost-effective mine countermeasure capabilities for modern naval operations.