Egypt showcased the USV-AIO-001 equipped with the Eagle 2 remote weapon station at EDEX 2025, signaling a significant advancement in its unmanned naval capabilities.
At EDEX 2025, Egypt’s Arab International Optronics (AIO) unveiled the USV-AIO-001, an unmanned surface vessel featuring the locally produced Eagle-2 remote weapon station in collaboration with Spanish firm Escribano, with the displayed configuration achieving 70 percent local content. The vessel integrates a domestically built hull with a stabilized combat system designed for coastal missions, providing surveillance and force protection while minimizing crew exposure.
The Eagle-2 is a lightweight, two-axis gyro-stabilized naval RWS capable of operating at sea state 3 in all weather conditions. It can mount 5.56 mm, 7.62 mm, 12.7 mm, or 14.5 mm weapons depending on mission requirements and weighs 185 kg without armament, allowing installation on small boats and USVs. Its electro-optical suite includes an uncooled thermal camera with dual field of view, a day sight camera with 30x optical zoom, and an eye-safe Class I laser rangefinder with a 3.5 km maximum range. The interface is user-friendly, and an embedded simulator allows training without live firing. Eagle-2 is the naval variant of the Eagle-1 turret.
AIO, formed in 1982 as a joint venture between Thales (49%) and Egypt’s National Service Products Organisation, has expanded from optronics to full weapon stations. Previously, the company developed the X29 RCWS for static defense, supporting 12.7×99 mm M2HB or KPVT 14.5×114 mm weapons with a 640×480 uncooled thermal sensor and day camera with long-range detection. A zero batch has been delivered to the Egyptian Ministry of Defence ahead of full production.
The Eagle-1, co-developed with Escribano and based on the Guardian turret, serves as the foundation for Eagle-2. It supports 12.7 mm or KPVT weapons, optional MG4, MG3, or 40 mm Mk19, with smoke launchers and STANAG Level 2 protection. Eagle-1 features two-axis stabilization, an advanced sensor suite, laser rangefinder up to 20 km, and an embedded simulator for training. Production is planned in two phases for 400 units, with local content currently at 30 percent, targeting 70 percent. Eagle-1 has been mounted on Egyptian Sherpa vehicles, while Eagle-2 appeared on a mock-up boat at the exhibition.
The USV-AIO-001 is part of Egypt’s growing unmanned naval ecosystem, which also includes private-sector contributions. Amstone, in collaboration with Leonardo and a Cypriot partner, developed the B5 HYDRA, a high-speed patrol USV with a 600 kg payload, 1,500 kg total weight, 2.1 m length, and maximum speed of 85 knots, capable of carrying a 12.7 mm remote gun, reconnaissance drones, and light torpedoes or serving as an explosive boat. The HORUS-USV, a fiberglass catamaran measuring 1.4 m by 1.3 m with a 0.35 m draft and 150 kg payload, demonstrated hydrographic survey capabilities with differential GNSS, 50–200 kHz echo sounders, dual thrusters, modular sensors, and instrumentation, meeting IHO S-44 standards with ±0.15 m uncertainty at 4.08 m depth.
About The Author
