A model of Couach's 600 USV on display at Euronaval 2024. (Janes/Alex Pape)
French shipyard Couach is preparing for another round of at-sea testing in co-operation with the French Navy for its 600unmanned surface vessel (USV) during 2025, the company told Janes at the Euronaval 2024 exhibition, held in Paris from 4 to 7 November.
The 600 USV, also known as Magellan, was first unveiled in 2022 and has since beenproven at sea in internal company trials during the last year.
The composite-construction 6 m USV equipped with a hybrid propulsion system driving a single propeller is designed primarily for surface surveillance and can undertake patrol roles in harbours or offshore as required. It can launch a small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from the foredeck and launch and recover a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for underwater inspection from a handling system at the stern.
It is designed with a single lifting point and has twin keels to facilitate handling when out of the water.
For more information on USV developments, please seeEuronaval 2024: MTG Dolphin unveils unmanned surface vehicle for the Bulgarian Navy , Qatar orders Turkish Ulaq USV , and REPMUS 2024: Portuguese Navy unveils Trator Do Mar USV .
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