Exail Timeline

Events

2026-07-21 - Partnership - Elistair and Exail productise Khronos integration with DriX USV - The productised integration follows earlier sea trials and is not presented as the first technical demonstration. The system supports automatic deployment, vessel-following operation, encrypted video and remote shore control. Elistair states tethered… - source: elistair.com
2026-07-15 - Contract Award - Exail wins European navy contract for three light MCM systems - Each system integrates Exail UMIS technology into a 9.5-metre rigid-hulled inflatable boat. The configured payload combines three Seascan mine-identification and K-Ster mine-neutralisation vehicles. The crew-of-three system includes Umisoft mission software… - source: exail.com
2026-07-06 - Acquisition - Thales agrees to acquire Exail stake ahead of planned tender offer - The transaction values Exail at an implied enterprise value of about €3.9 billion. Thales said the acquisition would expand its underwater-warfare scale and inertial-navigation capabilities. Closing of the initial stake purchase is expected by Q3 2027, with… - source: thalesgroup.com
2026-06-26 - Acquisition - Safran enters exclusive negotiations to acquire Exail Technologies - Safran confirmed exclusive negotiations for a potential acquisition of Exail Technologies at €128.50 per share, starting with the Gorgé family controlling stake and followed by a mandatory public offer if completed. Safran stated the potential transaction… - source: safran-group.com
2026-06-12 - Product Launch - Exail launches rapidly deployable GNSS-denied navigation solution - The system targets operations where GNSS is unavailable, degraded or contested. The launch is relevant to autonomous and uncrewed platforms that depend on resilient positioning. - source: exail.com
2025-07-30 - Contract Award - Exail wins 100-unit Phins Compact INS order for naval UUVs - The order covers navigation systems for naval UUV applications. The unnamed U.S. defense customer selected Phins Compact for subsea autonomy navigation. - source: exail.com
2025-06-30 - Contract Award - Exail wins European defense contract for five DriX H-8 USVs - The award covers a five-vessel DriX H-8 fleet for a defense customer. It is distinct from DriX O-16 sea trials and from Exail's Indonesian MCM award. - source: exail.com
2025-06-24 - Contract Award - Exail selected for Indonesian Navy unmanned MCM system - Exail was selected to supply multiple unmanned surface vessels and mine-identification and disposal systems to the Indonesian Navy. The system centres on Inspector 90 USVs and integrates mine detection, classification, identification and disposal functions.… - source: exail.com
2024-11-07 - Commercial Order - French DGA selects up to 16 extended A18-M vehicles - The order covers eight autonomous underwater vehicles plus eight additional units as an option. The extended A18-M configuration integrates Thales SAMDIS 600 multi-view sonar for mine detection and classification. The programme binds an exact A18-M… - source: exail.com
2024-06-05 - Demonstration - Exail conducts sea trials for DriX O-16 transoceanic USV - The demonstration validated a larger DriX USV for long-range hydrographic and maritime missions. The demonstration validates Exail conducts sea trials for DriX O-16 transoceanic USV's technology in maritime autonomy, underwater robotics or marine inspection… - source: exail.com
2023-10-04 - Production Milestone - Underwater-equipment rental operators added Exail subsea systems to their rental fleets - In 2022, Oceanscan, a rental marine equipment provider, acquired Exail’s Gaps M5 USBL positioning system, Octans Subsea and Octans Nano AHRS as well as Rovins and Phins Subsea INS Exail achieved record rental growth in 2022–2023, securing global contracts… - source: exail.com
2023-06-18 - Market Signal - Exail deploys uncrewed vessels in lost-shipwreck search - The search used remotely operated uncrewed vessels. The mission applied maritime robotics to seabed search work. The event is limited to the documented search operation, not a permanent deployment. - source: exail.com
2022-10-19 - Production Milestone - Belgian and Dutch navies prepare to receive third-generation robotic MCM systems - The programme uses autonomous and remotely operated maritime systems. Both navies are recipients under the joint mine-countermeasures programme. The milestone concerned delivery preparation for the programme’s robotic fleet. - source: exail.com
2022-10-04 - Company Formation - ECA Group and iXblue combine under Exail brand - The combined company brought together robotics, navigation, aerospace and photonics capabilities. Exail became a high-technology subsidiary of Groupe Gorgé focused on critical missions. - source: exail.com
2021-12-01 - Product Launch - ECA Group introduced the EVO 145 HD inspection camera for nuclear applications in air and water - EVO 145 HD provides a panoramic inspection view in a compact waterproof housing Two integrated lasers support dimensional measurement of observed defects Software modules enhance video quality for nuclear inspection workflows - source: exail.com
2021-10-12 - Product Launch - ECA Group launched the R7 compact remotely operated inspection robot - R7 uses a digital architecture for plug-and-play payload connections Its control unit combines a 15-inch touchscreen with a second data display The compact platform is designed for portable underwater inspection work - source: exail.com
2021-10-10 - Demonstration - French authorities evaluate ECA Group A18D underwater drone - The evaluated platform was the A18D AUV. The participants included the French DGA and French Navy. The French Naval Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service also took part in the evaluation. - source: exail.com
2021-09-27 - Commercial Order - ECA Group delivers third reactor-inspection system to ILL - The configuration uses a VS 340 N monochrome camera with a hard-radiation-tolerant tube sensor. The camera is mounted on a radiation-tolerant pan-and-tilt unit with its associated control equipment. This was the third completed supply of the same… - source: exail.com
2021-09-13 - Partnership - ECA Group selects CTM and Patria for minesweeping modules - The modules support a minesweeping system for the Belgian and Royal Netherlands navies. The announcement names electromagnetic and acoustic module supply. The two suppliers are retained within one multilateral programme event rather than a combined company… - source: exail.com
2021-07-14 - Contract Award - ECA Group selected for three EDIDP defence-research projects - The selection covered three separate European projects. The projects were funded through the EDIDP defence-research programme. The milestone concerns research participation rather than a commercial equipment order. - source: exail.com
2021-07-04 - Partnership - ATLANTIS project modernises hybrid ROV for offshore wind inspection - The work was conducted within a European H2020 consortium project. The robotic platform was a hybrid remotely operated vehicle. Target tasks included inspection and maintenance of offshore wind infrastructure. - source: exail.com
2021-05-13 - Commercial Order - Geneva Navigation Police selects H800 ROV for underwater search and rescue - The ROV supports search and rescue, wreck inspection and underwater object recovery. Its equipment includes scanning sonar, a five-axis electric arm and USBL positioning. An altimeter with automatic altitude control enables operation close to the lake bed. - source: exail.com
2021-05-10 - Partnership - ECA Group and TMT sign SEA 1905 mine-countermeasures MOU - The agreement formed a French-Australian team for the programme. Its scope covered robotic mine-countermeasures systems for the Royal Australian Navy. The announcement concerned an exploratory bid-stage MOU rather than an awarded supply contract. - source: exail.com
2021-05-04 - Commercial Order - Taiwanese oceanographic programme selects ECA Group H800 ROV - The selected platform was the H800 ROV. Its documented role was oceanographic research. The deployment geography was Taiwan. - source: exail.com
2021-04-07 - Deployment - ECA Group delivers ROV systems for offshore underwater work in Argentina - The delivery covered subsea remotely operated systems. The operating programme was UWILD offshore underwater work. The deployment location was Argentina. - source: exail.com
2021-03-08 - Commercial Order - ECA Group delivers H300V ROV for Middle East search and rescue - The delivered system was an H300V ROV. Its stated operational role was underwater search and rescue. The customer’s identity was not disclosed in the announcement. - source: exail.com
2021-03-02 - Commercial Order - SA Biotech receives ECA Pipe Cruiser and Z Pipe Viewer systems - SA Biotech intended to use both systems for demonstrations to South African wastewater-network inspection companies. ECA Group provided SA Biotech staff with preliminary technical and marketing training in France. Z Pipe Viewer covers 100-800 millimetre… - source: exail.com
2021-02-16 - Commercial Order - ECA Group supplies H300 MK2 ROV for Chilean fish-farm inspection - The supplied platform was an H300 MK2 ROV. The documented application was underwater fish-farm inspection. The operating geography was Chile. - source: exail.com
2021-02-11 - Product Launch - ECA Group unveils CAMELEON MK3 unmanned ground vehicle - The update advances the established CAMELEON UGV family. The announcement identifies the new generation as MK3. The platform remains focused on remote operation in hazardous environments. - source: exail.com
2020-03-29 - Commercial Order - Lithuanian Navy orders additional K-STER mine-disposal systems - Lithuania had operated K-STER systems since its initial purchase in 2009. The system is designed to identify and neutralise sea mines. The follow-on order extended an established operational fleet rather than starting a new evaluation. - source: exail.com
2020-02-04 - Partnership - ECA Group leads DroneSeastem-Protect maritime-drone consortium - ECA Group led the industrial collaboration. The programme focused on deploying multiple unmanned systems as a coordinated mission group. Participants were drawn from the robotics sector in southern France. - source: exail.com
2020-01-09 - Facility Opening - ECA Group plans 5,000-square-metre Ostend drone plant - Port of Ostend granted a concession on the former Beliard site, where the plant was planned to become operational in 2022. The factory and production start represented an investment of about EUR 10 million. Planned output included A18-M and T18-M vehicles… - source: exail.com
2020-01-07 - Product Launch - ECA Group launches indoor–outdoor autonomous AGV for Industry 4.0 - The AGV was designed for automated factory logistics. Its operating scope spans indoor and outdoor environments. The product targets production-flow optimisation and lower material-handling costs. - source: exail.com
2019-12-12 - Commercial Order - Médecins Sans Frontières receives two ECA borehole-inspection systems - The order covered two inspection systems. The equipment is used to inspect deep water boreholes. The programme supports access to water in African operating locations. - source: exail.com
2019-12-01 - Commercial Order - Tunisian oceanographic institute receives H300 MK2 ROV system - The recipient was Tunisia’s oceanographic institute. The delivered system was the H300 MK2 remotely operated vehicle. The documented mission scope was subsea oceanographic research. - source: exail.com
2019-09-29 - Commercial Order - Canada and France place first CAMELEON LG orders - The announcement covered two separate ground-robot contracts. Their combined value exceeded €3 million. They represented the first commercial successes for the CAMELEON LG platform. - source: exail.com
2019-09-08 - Commercial Order - ECA GROUP equips Shanghai University ROV with electric arm for subsea scientific research - The electric arm was supplied for integration on the university’s remotely operated vehicle. The manipulator provides five functions for underwater intervention tasks. The documented application was subsea scientific research. - source: exail.com
2019-06-11 - Deployment - Monaco Police receives ECA Group IGUANA ground robot - The delivered platform was an IGUANA UGV. The recipient was the Monaco Police. The robot is designed for remote intervention in hazardous public-safety environments. - source: exail.com
2019-05-21 - Contract Award - ECA Group wins Belgian–Dutch robotic mine-countermeasures contract - The programme is shared by the Belgian and Royal Netherlands navies. Its operating concept uses robotic and autonomous maritime systems. The award concerns mine detection, identification and neutralisation workflows. - source: exail.com
2019-03-26 - Product Launch - ECA Group introduces air-transportable UMIS In The Box system - The configuration was designed for transport by air. It packages multiple unmanned vehicles for stand-off mine warfare. The product extends ECA Group’s UMIS mine-countermeasure architecture into a deployable kit. - source: exail.com
2019-03-15 - Demonstration - ECA Group demonstrates AGV for aluminium smelters - The vehicle was designed for material handling in smelter environments. The demonstration tested automated movement within an industrial operating workflow. No unnamed smelter is represented as a customer deployment. - source: exail.com
2019-02-26 - Commercial Order - ECA Group delivers H300 ROV for submerged-structure work in France - The delivered platform was an H300 ROV. Its documented role was underwater intervention on submerged structures. The operating geography was France. - source: exail.com
2019-02-21 - Product Launch - ECA Group introduces Inspector 125 and Cameleon LG - Inspector 125 is the maritime vehicle in the two-product announcement. Cameleon LG is the accompanying land vehicle. Nexter participated in development of Cameleon LG, not Inspector 125. - source: exail.com
2019-02-12 - Demonstration - ECA Group demonstrates USV–ROV interoperability for Total and TechnipFMC - The demonstration combined USV and ROV operations in one inspection workflow. Total and TechnipFMC participated in the multilateral evaluation. The test addressed offshore subsea-inspection operations. - source: exail.com
2018-11-23 - Contract Award - ECA Group supplies Pipe Cruiser system in France - The system uses a multidirectional trolley for pipe travel. Its inspection head carries a swivelling television camera with zoom. The delivered configuration was intended for sewer-network inspection. - source: exail.com
2018-10-15 - Commercial Order - Sonatrach awards ECA Group €4 million underwater-cleaning contract - ECA’s six-tonne VISIT submarine system was assigned to clean four seawater intake galleries. The vehicle uses hydraulic tools to clean the galleries’ pipe walls. The contract was the fourth Sonatrach assignment of this type awarded to ECA Group. - source: exail.com
2018-09-19 - Commercial Order - ECA Group records new sale of A18 autonomous underwater vehicle - The sold platform was an A18 AUV. The vehicle is used for underwater inspection and mapping missions. The customer was not identified in the public announcement. - source: exail.com
2018-09-14 - Contract Award - ECA Group supplies H300V ROV to Chilean service company - The delivered product was the H300V underwater vehicle. The recipient’s exact legal identity was not disclosed. The record is limited to the completed equipment supply described by ECA Group. - source: exail.com
2018-06-05 - Product Launch - ECA Group introduces 1,000-metre core-sampler recovery system - The neutral-buoyancy skid combined a five-function electric manipulator with a protected six-compartment telescopic receiver. A seven-function telemetry unit controlled the arm, with two functions assigned to extending and retracting the sample drawer. The… - source: exail.com
2018-05-24 - Commercial Order - ECA Group delivers BH VIEWER 200 system in Benin - The system supports inspection of wells from four to 32 inches in diameter. Its swivelling colour camera and laser references support crack measurement and three-dimensional inspection. The completed delivery included operator training; equipment quantity… - source: exail.com
2018-05-02 - Contract Award - Orano orders 20 VSLT346Ni nuclear-inspection units from ECA Group - The VSLT346Ni unit remotely controls a radiation-tolerant pan-and-tilt assembly carrying a television camera and lights for omnidirectional viewing. The framework agreement covers 20 units on a phased delivery programme over the following two years. ECA… - source: exail.com
2018-04-18 - Commercial Order - Three customers place naval-robotics orders worth more than €12 million - The announcement covered three distinct customer orders. Their combined disclosed value exceeded €12 million. The order scope was naval robotic equipment. - source: exail.com
2018-03-05 - Commercial Order - Beachcomber orders two BM5E Micro arms for its H800-INS ROV - Both BM5E Micro arms can be installed side by side on a skid beneath the ROV. One arm can hold position on an underwater structure while the other performs maintenance. Beachcomber uses the H800-INS for underwater-structure maintenance in Tahiti. - source: exail.com
2018-02-14 - Partnership - ECA Group and Petrus partner on subsea robotics services - The scope includes autonomous underwater vehicles. It also covers remotely operated vehicle services. The partnership targets inspection and intervention work in subsea energy operations. - source: exail.com

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