Kraken Robotics and TKMS ATLAS UK have successfully demonstrated the KATFISH Unmanned Surface Vessel Launch and Recovery System (USV-LARS) on an in-service UK Royal Navy ARCIMS USV.
The integrated systems create a comprehensive autonomous survey package for maritime security missions, including mine countermeasure operations and critical underwater infrastructure inspection. Together, the ARCIMS and KATFISH USV-LARS are thought to be the industry’s first air-deployable, 300-meter depth-rated autonomous towed Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) survey system.
The demonstration took place off the coast of Portland, UK, on November 18-19 for NATO navies. Attendees observed the ARCIMS USV autonomously navigating and planning missions while the KATFISH towed system collected high-resolution SAS and bathymetric surveys in very shallow water. Data was live-streamed via satellite communications to a command center on shore, enabling real-time classification of contacts by operators.
Greg Reid, President and CEO of Kraken Robotics, commented “With the surge in unmanned systems for defence, naval forces need the best technology available to protect national security.With its ability to safely and autonomously launch and recover KATFISH from USVs, our USV-LARS allows small naval platforms to collect KATFISH’s high resolution synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) data, significantly increasing their capabilities and acting as force multipliers.”
The LARS footprint was designed to fit ATLAS UK’s ARCIMS common deck interface, allowing for rapid rerole and seamless integration with the platform. Operations encountered sea state three conditions, demonstrating the system’s robustness and readiness for real-world naval environments.
Wesley Galliver, Head of Surface Ship Systems Division, TKMS ATLAS UK, added, “This achievement demonstrates what can be accomplished when innovation and collaboration come together. Integrating ARCIMS with KATFISH and LARS in such a compressed timeframe sets a new benchmark for delivering operational capability to our customers. I am delighted with the results and proud of what the combined teams achieved.”
The joint integration is positioned as a major step forward in delivering agile, modular, and cost-effective mine countermeasure capabilities for modern naval operations. By combining the ARCIMS USV with Kraken’s towed synthetic aperture sonar and recovery system, navies can deploy advanced technologies faster and more efficiently, strengthening maritime security in increasingly complex environments.
Kraken’s KATFISH can collect high-resolution synthetic aperture sonar data at up to a 200-meter range per side at a depth of 300 meters, with real-time data streamed at 3 cm × 3 cm resolution. The company’s KATFISH USV-LARS was specifically designed for small vessels, featuring an all-titanium construction for a low magnetic signature and low weight. The KATFISH and USV-LARS were rapidly mobilized on the ARCIMS, with integration, testing, and the demonstration being completed over a period of just two weeks.
