A major challenge for many naval forces is operating drones and UAVs that must routinely take off from and return to a moving vessel in operational conditions.
Most drone systems require a highly skilled operator for launch, landing and control from a ship's deck. This has severely limited the ability to use drones continuously at sea because navies struggle to staff and train expert operators who must be present around the clock during maritime missions.
On top of that, drones are vulnerable to GPS disruption, electronic warfare and harsh weather. In high waves or strong crosswinds, even an experienced operator may struggle to land a drone on a vessel.
An Israeli start-up called Wonder Robotics has developed maritime capabilities for its proprietary technology suite, Wonderland, which the company says solves the problem. The new system provides a drone with secure positioning data, autonomous steering and control, and real-time decision-making so the aircraft can assess a vessel's status even in stormy seas, overcome electronic interference and carry out an accurate and safe landing.
The company is currently negotiating with several navies and conducting a series of tests and demonstrations in different maritime environments and on vessels of various sizes, ahead of integrating the maritime version into operational naval drones.
Over the past two years, the global maritime battleground has seen a sharp escalation, including repeated attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on merchant ships and major shipping routes. These incidents underscored how vulnerable global trade arteries are to threats from the air and shore, highlighting the urgent need for flexible, autonomous defensive capabilities within naval forces.
With advances in autonomous technology, drones can now be launched and operated directly from ships without relying on a dedicated, highly trained operator and without placing additional risk on the crew.
Wonder Robotics already operates in several defense environments worldwide, including the US and Singapore. Adi Shimon, the company's CEO and co-founder, said: "The ability to land safely on a ship in rough sea conditions is a genuine technological breakthrough. Our system gives navies a clear operational advantage: drones that function as if they had an experienced human pilot standing on the deck, even without GPS and without communications."
