Elbit Systems Debuts Underwater Drone Line at Paris Naval Expo

Elbit Systems will display its first Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) line at Euronaval 2026 in Paris, running from November 3 to 6. The announcement, made on Thursday, signals the company's entry into the autonomous maritime sector below the waterline.

The expansion follows Elbit's acquisition last week of International Submarine Engineering Ltd. (ISE). ISE supplies autonomous underwater systems and has delivered more than 250 vehicles to clients in over 20 nations. This purchase allows Elbit to pair these new subsurface tools with its existing Seagull family of Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs).

The Seagull systems have operated since 2017, handling patrol, reconnaissance, mine countermeasures, and anti-submarine tasks. However, those missions remained strictly above the surface. The new UUV portfolio changes that by introducing modular Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). These units support intelligence gathering, seabed mapping, and the protection of critical maritime infrastructure.

Elbit emphasizes the ability to coordinate these different platforms. The combined architecture allows for integrated operations between surface and underwater autonomous systems. It also supports manned-unmanned teaming concepts, where human operators work alongside drone-style vehicles in tandem. The systems include sonars, ISR systems, and mission-specific sensors for long-endurance autonomous operations.

Oren Sabag, General Manager of Elbit Systems ISTAR & EW, stated that navies seek comprehensive autonomous solutions for complex maritime missions. He noted that adding UUV capabilities strengthens the company's ability to provide a holistic operational solution spanning surface and underwater systems, payloads, and mission management.

Observers watch the event closely given past friction between Paris and Jerusalem regarding Israeli participation in air force conferences. No sources have indicated expected problems for this maritime gathering. Elbit describes its approach as vertically integrated, enabling coordinated autonomous maritime formations tailored to evolving operational requirements.