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Millimeter Precision on the Water: German Manufacturer Introduces an Automated Hangar
The Automation Hurdle
Landing a multi-rotor vehicle on a maritime platform presents a severe mechanical challenge. The deck is constantly moving forward while simultaneously pitching and rolling on an unpredictable cycle. To address this friction, German manufacturer CiS introduced the ORKA Dock. Built to mount directly onto the rear deck of an uncrewed surface vessel, this sealed, weatherproof hangar requires less than 30 seconds to fully open and launch an aerial drone on demand.
Baltic Sea Field Testing
Theoretical engineering must be validated in live offshore environments. During the Data2Sea portion of the SeaSEC 2026 exercises off Rostock, Germany, the system operated continuously over two weeks. Mounted on a FLANQ Q-RECON 24 traveling at 15 knots, the dock executed fully autonomous deployment and recovery cycles. The operation occurred entirely without remote manual intervention, demonstrating that an uncrewed vessel can actively catch an aircraft while navigating open-sea swells.
Precision Altimetry and Deck Recognition
Executing a successful recovery requires sub-centimeter spatial tracking. To ensure the aircraft lands securely within the compact hangar, CiS utilizes its proprietary BEACON technology to dynamically compensate for the host vessel’s continuous motion. This is supported by an onboard LiDAR altimeter featuring a 20-meter detection range. Operating with an accuracy of five millimeters, the sensor prevents the 26-pound drone from colliding with a deck that is rapidly dropping or rising due to wave action.
The Mobile Base Station
The interaction between the aircraft and the host boat completely alters the endurance arithmetic. The ORKA drone carries a 75-minute flight capacity and operates in winds up to 31 mph. However, the 24-foot FLANQ hull below it can reach speeds of 56 mph and boasts a range of 3,000 nautical miles. By utilizing the boat as a mobile base station that catches and recharges the drone between sorties, the system functions as a miniature aircraft carrier, establishing a persistent surveillance loop.
Protecting Critical Cables
The live trials hosted by the Northern Naval Capability Cooperation targeted actual maritime infrastructure. Operating alongside industry partners like HENSOLDT and Rheinmetall, the system was tasked with monitoring a live high-voltage power cable connecting Germany and Denmark. Reconnaissance data streamed directly via the firm’s MissionControl software into the Bundeswehr’s situational-awareness network. This deployment confirms that automated deck infrastructure is rapidly transitioning from a conceptual phase into active European defense logistics.
