Spanish company Arquimea, with support from the Spanish Navy, has completed the first at-sea launch of its Q-Slam 40 loitering munition from an unmanned surface vehicle. The test took place during the Repmus exercise, organized in Portugal in September by the Portuguese Navy and NATO.
The system was integrated into a multiple launcher installed on the Spanish Navy’s Sead 23 USV. The mission included remote activation of the munition, takeoff, establishment of communications, navigation, and arrival at the target.
During the demonstration, the Q-Slam 40 transmitted real-time data and video to the Spanish Navy’s command-and-control systems. According to Arquimea, the solution operated as part of the Naiad/Scomba NG ecosystem under the NATO STANAG 4817 standard. The company said the test validates the use of this munition from unmanned naval platforms.
Testing of the S-Wise hybrid system
Arquimea also deployed the S-Wise at Repmus, an unmanned hybrid system capable of operating on the surface and underwater. The tests included exercises involving the defense and attack of port facilities, autonomous detection and tracking of vessels, and infiltration missions at guarded installations.
Detection and tracking were carried out using a neural network that, according to the company, was developed entirely in Spain. Participation in the exercise made it possible to test the S-Wise’s underwater flight concept and its surface stability under different sea conditions.
The prototype is made from acoustically transparent 3D-printed plastics. Arquimea attributes its low acoustic and visual signature, both on the surface and while submerged, to this construction. The company also reported repair tests under operational conditions and communications via radio frequency and 4G and 5G networks, with real-time transmission of video and artificial intelligence-generated detections.
Repmus brought together more than 130 companies and 36 countries, along with their naval forces, NATO bodies, universities, and research centers. The exercise enabled Arquimea to assess the interoperability of its systems with other platforms, networks, and command-and-control assets.
