Exail’s latest contract for its K-Ster underwater mine disposal drones underscores the rising priority placed on autonomous naval warfare systems. Valued at €40 million, the order involves the supply of several hundred expendable vehicles optimized for high-risk mine neutralization missions. The agreement ranks as Exail’s second-largest K-Ster deal, trailing only a major NATO order in 2024, and signals sustained investment in unmanned mine countermeasures across allied navies. Manufacturing will be concentrated at the company’s Belgian production hub in Ostend, a key node supporting Europe’s maritime defense industrial base. Engineered for deployment from surface vessels, support boats, or land-based command centers, the K-Ster is tailored for precise, terminal-stage mine disposal. Its operational concept reflects a broader shift toward attritable, unmanned naval systems that minimize personnel exposure while maintaining mission effectiveness in contested maritime environments.
