Stark Defence Unveils Vanta 24 Uncrewed Naval Vessel
Stark Defence announced the Vanta 24 uncrewed surface vessel to track Russian shadow fleets and protect undersea cables in the Baltic and North seas.
German defense startup Stark Defence announced plans to launch the Vanta 24, a 24-meter uncrewed surface vessel, next year. Unveiled by CEO Uwe Horstmann at Bloomberg Tech London, the vessel is designed to track Russia's shadow fleet and protect undersea cables in the Baltic and North seas.
The Vanta 24 can travel over 40 mph and carry up to 50 metric tons of weaponry, including missiles and cannons. Horstmann positioned the vessel as a lower-cost, faster-to-deploy alternative to manned frigates, stating that these systems cost a thousandth of the price of traditional ships. The company is developing the hardware in the United Kingdom and Germany and has hired former British Royal Navy commander Stephen Brian to lead naval operations.
Valued at €3.2 billion as of June, Stark Defence is expanding from strike drones into maritime hardware to establish itself as a neo-prime defense contractor. This expansion coincides with increased European naval deterrence efforts against Russian submarine activity and hybrid warfare.
