Overview
- Rheinmetall, which announced the start Monday, is building the Kraken K3 at the Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg through the Rheinmetall Kraken joint venture.
- Initial output is set at about 200 boats per year, and the company says it can ramp up to 1,000 units depending on orders.
- The 8.5‑meter craft is a diesel‑powered uncrewed surface vessel that can reach 55 knots, carry up to 600 kilograms, and run roughly 650 nautical miles at 25 knots with missions up to 30 days.
- Operators control the boat remotely today, and Rheinmetall says autonomous operation is planned for future versions.
- Rheinmetall bought four Lürssen shipyards on March 1, a move it says enables Blohm+Voss to become a national test and technology center for unmanned maritime systems while traditional ship work continues.