Euroatlas' Foxtrot hydraulically powered AUV began underwater tests off the German coast in April 2026.
Euroatlas, a German manufacturer of unmanned maritime systems, told Janes that its hydrogen-powered Foxtrot variant of the Grey Shark autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) has commenced in-water testing.
Grey Shark Foxtrot
Verineia Codrean, Head of Strategy and Partnerships at Euroatlas, told Janes at the Clarion Defence Underwater Defence Technology (UDT) Exhibition held in London from April 14 to 16, 2026, that the Grey Shark Foxtrot began its first water quality tests in the waters off Damp near Kiel during the week starting April 6. She added that testing continued at the SeaSEC Submarine Safety Experimental Centre near Rostock, Germany, in the week starting April 13.
Euroatlas is testing the hydrogen-powered endurance of the Grey Shark Foxtrot. Codrean stated that it has an endurance of 16 weeks, approximately 8,000 nautical miles, at a speed of 4 knots. She added that at a maximum sustained speed of 10 knots, its endurance is reduced to six days.
Codrean said this underwater test marks a milestone, as the propulsion system and other systems of the Foxtrot had only been tested on land prior to reaching Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4. According to Euroatlas data, the Foxtrot is operable at depths of up to 4,000 meters.
Thiago Camargo, Chief Technology Officer of Euroatlas, stated that the circulation pump used to maintain the fuel mixture ratio of the Foxtrot does generate noise. He added that the noise level is not significantly higher than that of the Bravo power system, but the team is assessing whether the pump creates detectable signatures for the AUV under different operating conditions.
"So far, it has not been an issue," Camargo said.
