01hromadske2026-11-04Hromadske
German startup develops unmanned vessel to monitor Russia's shadow fleet and protect undersea cables (opens in a new tab)
A German defense startup, Stark Defence, plans to launch the unmanned vessel *Vanta 24* in 2027 to monitor Russia’s shadow fleet and protect undersea infrastructure in the Baltic and North Seas. The 24-meter vessel can carry up to 50 metric tons of payload, including weapons, and operate at speeds over 64 km/h without a crew. Stark claims the vessel will be far cheaper and faster to produce than traditional warships, with deployment possible within months. The project aims to counter Russian hybrid threats, though analysts note challenges in scaling up the technology.