French firm's 2,300-mile DriX H-9 sea drone lands two new navy deals

French maritime robotics firm Exail Technologies has secured two new contracts for its DriX H-9 autonomous surface vessel (USV), supporting the French Navy and an undisclosed allied navy. The DriX H-9, a 29.5-foot long, 2.1-ton drone capable of operating up to 20 days and covering 2,000 nautical miles, is designed for extended maritime missions such as surveillance, hydrographic surveying, and maritime monitoring. It features low acoustic and radar signatures, station-keeping ability, and supports remotely operated towed vehicle deployment and multibeam echo sounders for deep-sea operations up to 3,000 meters. One contract involves configuring the DriX H-9 for counter-unmanned aerial system (CUAS) missions, integrating third-party sensors to detect and neutralize hostile drones offshore, thus extending drone defense beyond coastlines. The second contract, from the Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOM) of the French