A Greek-built unmanned vessel is taking part in a major international exercise testing the future of maritime drone technology.
The H35 USV, an unmanned surface vessel built in Greece, is currently taking part in REPMUS 2026 in Portugal. The exercise runs through September 25 and brings together naval forces, technology developers, universities and NATO organizations.
The Greek vessel has drawn attention for its speed and its ability to operate without a crew. It represents the growing use of unmanned platforms in maritime operations.
A Greek Vessel in a Major International Test
REPMUS stands for Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping with Maritime Unmanned Systems.
The Portuguese Navy describes the event as the world’s largest exercise of its kind. Its 2026 edition involves around 300 unmanned maritime systems, supported by 14 ships. Participants are testing systems designed to operate across different parts of the maritime domain, including surface and underwater environments.
The exercise focuses on testing new technologies in operational conditions and examining how different unmanned systems can work together.
The European Defence Agency has also used REPMUS to test real-time information sharing between European, national and NATO maritime systems during operations off the Portuguese coast.
What Makes the H35 Stand Out
The H35 is an unmanned surface vessel, meaning it can operate without a crew on board.
Published specifications for the Greek-built vessel describe a platform capable of reaching speeds of up to 75 knots, powered by engines with a combined output of 1,000 horsepower.
Its design allows for different operational configurations. These can include surveillance, reconnaissance, patrol and interception, while the platform can also be configured for missions involving a payload.
The vessel has sometimes been described as a “kamikaze” drone because one possible configuration could involve a direct strike against a target. However, that term does not describe the vessel’s only role.
Its participation in REPMUS places a Greek-built unmanned vessel alongside international systems being tested in one of the world’s largest maritime experimentation environments.
For Greece, the appearance of the H35 at the exercise also highlights the country’s growing involvement in the development of unmanned maritime technology.
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