French defense technology firm Exail has secured a significant €40-million contract to deliver several hundred K-Ster unmanned underwater mine disposal vehicles to multiple naval customers, marking the company’s second-largest order for the system to date. The deal follows a €60-million NATO contract awarded in August 2024 and reflects accelerating international demand for autonomous mine countermeasures. Production will take place at Exail’s Ostend facility in Belgium, which has steadily expanded output since opening in 2022 to support multinational naval programs. Designed for the final phase of minehunting operations, each K-Ster unit functions as a consumable asset, intended to neutralize a detected mine through deliberate self-destruction. Launchable from warships, small craft, or shore-based centers, the system enhances fleet safety by removing divers from hazardous environments. Compact and lightweight, the K-Ster can operate at depths of up to 300 meters, reinforcing Exail’s growing role in next-generation naval mine warfare.
