SEABER Launches RAVEN Compact AUV to Challenge High-End Platforms

27 October 2026
Edited By: Ed Freeman

French AUV manufacturer SEABER announces the launch of RAVEN®, a new generation of compact AUVs for mine countermeasures (MCM) and survey. Designed to compete with established market leaders, RAVEN® challenges their cost structure.

(Image credit: SEABER)

Weighing 13 kg with a 12 cm diameter, RAVEN® can be deployed by a single operator, while carrying technologies until now reserved for larger and more expensive platforms. The new AUV is depth rating: 300 m, capable of 3–6 kts, has an endurance of up to 8 hours, and can be deployed by a single operator (weighing 13 kg).

At the heart of RAVEN® is LYNX®, SEABER’s proprietary optical-based inertial navigation system. Its drift remains below 0.2% of distance traveled on straight-line trajectories, with even better performance on lawnmower survey patterns. A dual-antenna GNSS receiver ensures more accurate initialization and features anti-jamming capabilities, essential in contested or GNSS-denied environments.

Combined with a DVL, this accuracy opens up new possibilities for seabed mapping, underwater inspection, scientific research, and defense missions.

Two Configurations for Detection and Inspection

RAVEN® carries a side-scan sonar (600/1200 kHz or 900/1800 kHz) and comes in two versions:
RAVEN SCAN-MAG integrates a magnetometer capable of detecting and locating submerged metallic objects, including naval mines and shipwrecks.
RAVEN SCAN-LUMEN combines a high-definition camera with a 24,000-lumen lighting system for visual inspection, even in demanding underwater environments.

High-End Performance at One-Third of the Price

RAVEN’s breakthrough is also economic. SEABER aims to deliver performance comparable to high-end conventional AUVs at one-third of their price. This positioning could make advanced underwater technology accessible to a much broader range of users and enable large-scale AUV deployment.

Having helped democratize micro-AUV technology with its YUCO range, SEABER now brings the same approach to the compact AUV segment.

Technical Specifications

Dimensions: Length 131–137 cm · Ø 12 cm · 13 kg
Navigation: LYNX® optical INS, anti-jamming dual-antenna GNSS, DVL
Payloads: Side-scan sonar (600/1200 or 900/1800 kHz); magnetometer (SCAN-MAG) or HD camera + 24,000 lm lighting (SCAN-LUMEN)
Communications: Acoustic modem (2–3 km), UHF radio (5 km), Iridium, infrared LEDs