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Explore UST’s round-up of our five most read articles in the industry this week, including new technologies, collaborations, and industry successes.
1. OceanAlpha Unveils L42 USV at Ocean Business
OceanAlpha has introduced its latest innovation in maritime autonomy at Ocean Business 2025 with the launch of the L42 Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV). Designed to meet the evolving demands of large-scale offshore surveys, the L42 emphasizes operational endurance, modular payload integration, and field-proven reliability.
At the core of the L42’s capabilities is a hybrid propulsion system enabling over 1,500 km of operational range, equivalent to 8 days of continuous mission endurance at 4 knots. This extended range significantly minimizes retrieval frequency, enabling persistent offshore missions without compromising data acquisition schedules. The vessel features four redundant electric motors for enhanced operational resilience, making it well-suited to both coastal and open-ocean deployments.
2. SwissDrones Delivers VTOL UAV to Enhance RPAS Capabilities
SwissDrones has delivered an additional SDO 50 V3 Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) to Xplorate, further expanding its operational fleet of long-range, uncrewed aerial systems.
Engineered in Switzerland, the SDO 50 V3 is designed for demanding environments and extended-duration missions. Its helicopter-style flight characteristics, such as precise hovering, vertical take-offs, and landings, offer operational flexibility in environments where traditional fixed-wing UAVs may be less effective. This versatility supports complex mission profiles without compromising safety or efficiency.
3. MKS Launches Ophir® FoldIR MWIR Zoom Lens for UAV & Gimbal Platforms
MKS-Ophir has unveiled the Ophir® FoldIR 25-275mm f/5.5 MWIR Continuous Zoom Lens at SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing 2025. The FoldIR 25-275mm is the latest addition to the FoldIR family of lightweight, compact, continuous zoom lenses, developed specifically for drones and optimized for smaller 15µm pitch VGA focal plane array (FPA) detectors.
Engineered to meet the requirements of newly released low-SWaP cooled VGA detectors, the lens combines compactness with performance, addressing the demanding needs of the security and defense markets.
4. New Synthetic Aperture Sonar Service for Offshore Energy by Kraken Robotics
Kraken Robotics is set to introduce a new synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) service tailored to the global offshore energy sector. Starting in July 2025, Kraken’s commercial services team will offer KATFISH towed SAS systems for rental.
The KATFISH towed SAS system, which was first launched seven years ago, has since been deployed worldwide for a variety of applications, including mine countermeasure operations, critical underwater infrastructure inspections, and harbor surveys. This advanced system delivers real-time resolution of 3cm x 3cm with a range of up to 200 meters per side, achieving some of the highest area coverage rates in the industry.
5. WarrenUAS Adds Another Top Expert in Sophisticated Unmanned Aircraft
WarrenUAS, one of the top drone training and research programs in the United States, has added to its deep ties in the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) industry through a new collaborative agreement with The Tactien Group LLC, a leading aviation strategic advisory firm guiding clients worldwide.
“WarrenUAS is one of the best institutions in the country for unmanned system training and research, with a very effective strategic plan for staying abreast of the latest developments in this fast-growing industry,” said Nathan (Nate) A. Ernst, Founder and President of Tactien. “Through this relationship I know that WarrenUAS can benefit from the decades of experience our team has with some of the most sophisticated technology in the field, particularly with larger unmanned systems. Meanwhile, we can gain insight through collaborative research projects like the ones Warren is already undertaking.”
