U.K.-based Kraken will work with air cargo company Capewell to test the idea of dropping K3 SCOUT USVs from cargo aircraft. While the defence community has gotten used to the idea of USV motherships like the Portuguese Multi-Role Support Ship, Turkish TCG ANADOLU LHD (L-400), and Netherlands’ future cross-over of a frigate and an LPD; another thought has popped up: air-borne USVs. With K3 SCOUT’s measurements being 8.4 m in length and a few tonnes in weight at most, Kraken wants to explore the idea of parachuting down USVs from cargo aircraft with advantages like rapid deployment and the potential element of surprise on the table.
Founder and CEO of Kraken Technology Group Mal Crease has made the following statement regarding the cooperation: “We are continually looking for ways to enhance Kraken platform capability through collaboration with expert partners to deliver genuine operational advantages. We look forward to collaborating with Capewell on other Next Generation Aerial Delivery System (NGADS) fitments and unlocking the air deployment potential of other Kraken platforms in future”.
" K3 SCOUT can be fitted with different payloads with a 600 kg-capacity payload bay; including electro-optics, SIGINT equipment and light munitions. The possibilities with air deployment of USVs with the potential to take on different include long-term surveillance on waters too dangerous for larger ships to approach or rapidly deploying a small ASW or ASuW force as a support.
