The French hydrographic and oceanographic service (Shom) has selected Exail’s DriX H-9 Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV) to expand its data collection capabilities for civil and military applications.
The acquisition follows the deployment of a DriX H-8 model ordered in late 2024 and signals a shift toward the “dronization” of the French hydrographic fleet. The new DriX H-9 provides increased endurance and autonomy, capable of operating for up to 20 days depending on the specific sensor payload. This vessel can be deployed directly from the shore or launched from Shom’s primary hydrographic and oceanographic ship, the Beautemps-Beaupré.
By integrating uncrewed systems, Shom aims to deliver certified maritime data more rapidly to meet the requirements of safety of navigation, environmental monitoring, and coastal management. The USV’s design allows it to reach survey areas in the English Channel or the Atlantic Ocean autonomously from the Brest naval base.
Pierre-Louis Roudaut France Sales Manager at Exail, commented, “This new order reflects the confidence Shom places in Exail’s uncrewed surface systems and in the operational maturity of the DriX platform. By supporting Shom in the dronization of its hydrographic fleet, we are contributing to more efficient collection of maritime data, helping decision-makers address increasingly complex civil and military challenges.
“As the third DriX H-9 ordered in just a few months by different customers, this latest acquisition confirms that the platform’s extended endurance and autonomy effectively address a wide range of operational needs.”
The implementation of the H-9 model allows for joint operations with existing assets, benefiting from established infrastructure and previous operational experience.
Denis Creach, Shom’s Transformation Hydro-Oceanographic Capabilities Officer, stated, “The DriX-H9 will offer strong complementarity with Shom’s other data acquisition assets, in particular with Marlin, our DriX H-8, with which it can be operated jointly. Its capabilities will allow deployment directly from the Brest naval base, from where it will be able to autonomously reach survey areas in the English Channel or the Atlantic Ocean. This new DriX will also benefit from the experience gained by our teams through Marlin, as well as from shared infrastructures.”
The collaboration between Exail and Shom continues to focus on evolving France’s hydrographic capabilities through increased survey coverage and the acceleration of data acquisition cycles.
