Role & capabilities
- Hydrographic survey
- Environmental data collection
- Maritime sensor support
- Primary domain
- Sea surface
- System type
- Uncrewed surface vessel
- Developer / manufacturer
- Exail
- Origin / production countries
- France
- Other names
- DriX H8; Marlin — Shom's named H-8 vessel
- Variants / configurations
- DriX H-8; H-9 and O-16 are related, separately specified models
- Operators / programme customers
- France — Shom; Commercial and research operators in mission-specific configurations
Evidence & current status
Delivery and full operational readiness are distinguished. H-8/H-9 data-sheet values are identified; the manufacturer's product page contains a different mass baseline.
DriX H-8 is a purpose-designed uncrewed survey vessel with a narrow composite hull and a submerged gondola for scientific and hydrographic instruments. Its unusual shape is intended to provide a stable measurement platform, while remote supervision allows operators to remain ashore or aboard another vessel. The platform also supports broader maritime sensing applications.
France's Shom received its first H-8, named Marlin, in September 2025. The operator describes work serving both civilian needs and defence, with human hydrographers supervising operations. Shom's February 2026 update still distinguished delivery from completion of the team's operational familiarisation.
The product page and downloadable data sheet contain different mass figures: approximately 1.4 tonnes on the page versus 1.6 tonnes in the sheet. That difference is retained as a configuration or documentation qualification. Speed and endurance also vary together; the longest advertised mission is associated with a lower operating speed. H-9 and the larger O-16 are separate configurations, while Shom's boat name Marlin should not be confused with Türkiye's MARLIN USV.
Sourced specifications
Figures apply to the named configuration. Maximum values are not guaranteed operating performance.
| Specification | Reported value | Context & source |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration | Uncrewed survey monohull with submerged payload gondola | Supplier-published figure; configuration and operating conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Hull / propulsion | Composite hull; approximately 38 hp diesel with shaft-driven propeller | Supplier-published figure; configuration and operating conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Dimensions | 7.71 m length; about 0.8 m beam; 2 m draft | Supplier-published figure; configuration and operating conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Displacement / mass | Product page: about 1.4 t; downloadable sheet: 1.6 t | The product page and sheet differ; loading/configuration is not reconciled. Source ↗ |
| Payload | 750 W electrical payload allowance in H-8/H-9 data sheet | Electrical capacity rather than payload mass. Source ↗ |
| Endurance | Up to 10 days, dependent on speed | Supplier-published figure; configuration and operating conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Range | Not established in the reviewed public sources. | Public data gap; no estimate or neighbouring variant value substituted. Source ↗ |
| Speed | Up to 14 knots, dependent on payload | Supplier-published figure; configuration and operating conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Sea state / environment | Supplier describes survey capability up to sea state 5 | Survey standard and payload conditions apply. Source ↗ |
| Sensors | Configurable multibeam sonar, oceanographic instruments, radar and cameras | Supplier-published figure; configuration and operating conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Communications / control | Supervised autonomy or direct remote control; LOS and satellite/cellular links | Supplier-published figure; configuration and operating conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Launch / deployment | Dedicated launch/recovery system; shore or supporting-vessel deployment | Shom plans include port use and embarkation aboard Beautemps-Beaupré. Source ↗ |
Documented milestones
Shom received Marlin
French hydrographic operator received its first DriX H-8 at Brest.
Read the announcement ↗
Publication history
- — Added sourced land and maritime coverage with domain-specific evidence and limitations.
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Follow the evidence
Source types identify who makes the claim. Programme milestones and supplier statements should be read in context.
- DriX H-8 product specifications (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer / programme
- H-8/H-9 manufacturer data sheet (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer / programme
- Shom delivery and operating plans, updated 4 February 2026 (opens in a new tab)Government / operator