Exail :: Robotics, Maritime Autonomy, Navigation & Defense Systems

Exail is a leading European high-tech industrial group specializing in robotics, maritime autonomy, navigation, and defense systems. Created in 2022 through the merger of ECA Group and iXblue, the company now employs more than 2,200 people across over 30 sites worldwide and generates more than €480 million in annual revenue. It operates in over 80 countries, with nearly 80% of its turnover coming from exports. Exail focuses on delivering robust technologies for the most demanding environments, ranging from the deep ocean to outer space, serving both defense and civil sectors with a strong emphasis on safety, reliability, and technological sovereignty.

The company’s robot-based products form a core part of its portfolio. In the maritime domain, Exail develops a complete range of autonomous and remotely operated systems. These include the DRIX series of Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) for hydrography, offshore energy, and naval surveillance; the A6K Ultra Deep Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) capable of operating at extreme depths; and the R7 Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) for inspection and intervention tasks. Its integrated mine countermeasures solution (UMIS) combines underwater, surface, and aerial drones to detect, classify, and neutralize mines while keeping personnel and ships at a safe distance. The company also offers the Flipix towed vehicle and manipulator arms for ROVs, along with Unmanned Ground Vehicles for land-based operations.

Exail integrates these robotic platforms with advanced inertial navigation systems, forward-looking sonars, synthetic aperture sonars, and ultra-short baseline (USBL) positioning solutions. Its technologies support mine identification and disposal, seabed survey, scientific oceanography, and renewable energy projects. The systems are designed for high autonomy, real-time data processing, and multi-vehicle coordination, significantly reducing human risk in hazardous environments.