FLANQ and CIS Form Strategic Partnership Following Successful USV-launched UAV Capability

FLANQ, a German maritime defence solutions provider, and CiS, a leading developer of autonomous aerial systems, today announced a strategic partnership to jointly develop and deploy an integrated capability enabling the launch and recovery of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs).

The announcement follows successful trials of a CiS Orka tactical air surveillance and reconnaissance drone being hosted, deployed and recovered aboard a 12-foot FLANQ USV operating autonomously in open water at an undisclosed test site.

By merging FLANQ’s proven USV platforms and mission payloads with CiS’s expertise in long-endurance UAV systems, the partnership will deliver a modular, scalable system-of-systems designed to provide rapid-response surveillance, reconnaissance, and intelligence-gathering capabilities, critical to strengthening Europe’s autonomous defence capabilities.

Key objectives of the partnership Include:

• Development of a fully integrated UAV launch-and-recovery systems from medium to large USV platforms
• Persistent over-the-horizon ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) enabled by AI-based mission autonomy
• Seamless interoperability with NATO maritime command-and-control frameworks
• Deployment-readiness for dynamic threat environments, including hybrid and grey-zone conflict scenarios

“This partnership with CiS reinforces our commitment to delivering maritime domain advantage to Europe and its allies,” said Daniel Esser, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of FLANQ. “Together, we are enabling a new level of operational flexibility and responsiveness through intelligent, aerial and uncrewed surface systems.”

Tom Kaufmann, Managing Partner and CEO at CiS, added: “Europe’s maritime borders face increasing threats – from illicit trafficking to shadow fleet sabotage. Through our collaboration with FLANQ, we will deliver an agile, intelligent system that enhances situational awareness and supports decision-makers across the maritime security domain.”

The joint system’s capabilities will be showcased this month at REMPUS 2025 in Portugal, the annual NATO-led military exercise where both companies are participating.