Fincantieri Signs Deal with Defcomm to Develop Autonomous Surface Drones

Fincantieri has signed a strategic agreement with Italian startup Defcomm to develop autonomous surface drones for maritime surveillance and security operations.

Announced on October 20, the deal establishes a co-investment partnership to advance and industrialize Defcomm’s autonomous surface units, which have completed long endurance tests. The drones are designed for surveillance, intelligence, and patrol missions and can operate autonomously, by remote control, or manually.

The collaboration enables Fincantieri to integrate deployment capabilities for these surface vehicles on its naval platforms for both domestic and international clients. It also includes training and demonstration activities to showcase the systems’ interoperability and performance in complex scenarios.

Fincantieri, already active in underwater drone development, said the partnership aligns with its strategy to expand in high-tech dual-use unmanned systems and strengthen cooperation with innovative startups in the maritime sector.