During the international defence and security exhibition DEFEA 2025, the Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Israeli ELTA Systems, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), for the co-production of the “BlueWhale” autonomous underwater vehicle. 

The agreement was signed by HAI’s President and CEO, Alexandros Diakopoulos, and his IAI counterpart, Boaz Levy.

Mr Diakopoulos noted that HAI will assume full responsibility for the manufacturing implementation of BlueWhale, undertaking not only the coordination of the project but also the construction of the electronic systems it incorporates—initially to meet  domestic requirements and, under certain conditions, for exports as well. 

As he stated, BlueWhale is an important force multiplier, particularly significant for the Aegean operational environment, as it offers solutions in one of the most demanding areas of naval operations: anti-submarine missions. According to him, the system operates autonomously, without requiring human intervention, and can be transported on naval vessels via containers. 

The system has already undergone development and testing phases by the Israeli forces, with applications in Germany and other countries. When asked about the potential interest of the Hellenic Armed Forces, he expressed the belief that such a prospect would be positively evaluated, as the BlueWhale can ensure comprehensive control of maritime channels, monitoring the seabed and detecting potential threats.

He also emphasised that the project is still in its early stages, while stressing that autonomous systems—not only aerial and surface, but also underwater—will shape the future of defence operations.

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BlueWhale is a state-of-the-art autonomous underwater vehicle, designed for reconnaissance, intelligence, and targeting missions, incorporating innovative tactical applications in the field of anti-submarine warfare, making it ideal for complex maritime operations.

BlueWhale (ELI-3325) belongs to the category of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and is designed to perform high-risk missions in both coastal and open-sea environments without human presence for extended periods. It features a low detection footprint and a high level of interoperability with C4ISR systems.

BlueWhale’s deployment can, to a large extent, replace the presence of manned submarines in hazardous or prolonged missions, enhancing first-contact capabilities in reconnaissance and anti-submarine surveillance. Additionally, the system is noted for its rapid reactivation ability, low maintenance costs, and minimal operational footprint.

In addition to its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, BlueWhale is also capable of conducting mine countermeasures (MCM) and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions underwater. 

Its stealth profile, long-range capability, and integrated data processing ensure the delivery of critical real-time tactical imagery, while minimising its electromagnetic footprint.

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