China is leading the charge in the race for underwater drones

In Europe, several strategies are being developed simultaneously. Let’s take the Italian example: for Fincantieri, the key lies above all in the ability to integrate activities that have so far followed separate paths. The agreements announced in July 2026 with Next Geosolutions, WSense, Graal Tech and Defcomm involved an initial outlay of around 600 million euros, partly financed by the 500 million capital increase completed the previous February. The aim is to bring together under a single group expertise ranging from seabed surveying to underwater communications, and from robotics to surface systems.

The protection of submerged infrastructure is one of the areas of application. Last February, Fincantieri and WSense announced the integration of wireless technologies into the Deep system for the monitoring of critical infrastructure. In June, Eni and Fincantieri, through Ids, announced an agreement for the global commercialisation and industrial development of Clean Sea technology, designed to monitor the marine ecosystem and submerged structures.

France, by contrast, organises its work on a mission-by-mission basis. The Slamf programme involves eight autonomous mine warfare vehicles, with a further eight as an option; Exail has been selected to develop a vehicle for reconnaissance and surveillance at depths of up to 6,000 metres; Naval Group is working on an underwater combat demonstrator. This range of systems makes it possible to tackle a wide variety of challenging scenarios without having to wait for all the systems to be ready at the same time.

The protection of submarine cables illustrates why the availability of resources alone is not sufficient. In June 2026, the European Commission announced €5.8 million for the first two Regional Cable Hubs, in the Baltic and the Mediterranean, as well as a €40 million call for proposals to strengthen repair capabilities. The requirements include at least three vessels compatible with the planned modules and the ability to install the equipment within three days of the vessel’s arrival in port. This deadline relates to the preparation of the vessel, not the completion of the cable repair.

Identifying a fault and securing the necessary equipment are just two steps in an operation that requires ships, technicians, spare parts and coordination with operators. A delay in restoring service can have consequences far beyond the maritime sector, affecting digital communications and energy supplies.

Between 2027 and 2028, the various EU-wide programmes, together with cable safety initiatives, will have to grapple with practical issues: how many vehicles will actually be available, how much it will cost to keep them in service, and how quickly they can be mobilised.