From the perspective of a sailing yacht, a boat of this kind initially raises practical questions: who steers it, and how does it recognise other vessels? Stark used the occasion to showcase his twelve-metre-long Vanta 12 and Flensburg as a potential location for its production. The presentation was not an announcement of permanent operation on the fjord.
Unmanned, but not unarmed
Vanta 12 is an unmanned military surface vessel. Cameras, thermal imaging technology and radar are designed to monitor maritime areas; the AI-powered Minerva platform is intended to support control and coordination with other systems. According to Stark At a speed of ten knots, the boat can cover around 1,200 nautical miles and carry a payload of up to two tonnes. Stark states that the speed can reach up to 40 knots.
The Berlin-based defence company develops unmanned military systems for operations on land, in the air and at sea. For Vanta 12, it lists ten Cascade missiles – so-called loitering munitions – and four Sea-Venom guided missiles for maritime targets. According to Stark, the Cascade has already been launched from the vessel. During the REPMUS 2026 exercise off the Portuguese coast near Tróia and Sesimbra In September, Vanta 12 is said to have carried out joint operations with manned and unmanned units. Cascade is said to have been launched there; a Sea Venom operation was merely simulated.
What does this mean for sailors?
After a NDR report on the Flensburg screening The Vanta 12 can be operated remotely or carry out pre-programmed tasks autonomously. According to Stark Director Max Berger, humans monitor the vehicle and decide whether to use weapons. If the satellite connection is lost, the boat is designed to stop and give way to other traffic. It was not possible to assess at the press briefing how the detection of other vessels works in conditions of poor visibility or heavy traffic.
For sailors, this is not merely a theoretical question. About unmanned boats during a naval exercise off Warnemünde As YACHT has already reported, the Vanta 12 differs from the unarmed sailing drones used by the Danish Navy for surveillance: Stark explicitly envisages the vessel being armed. According to Stark, the company currently has no plans for further test runs on the Flensburg Fjord.
Flensburg as a potential construction site
Stark intends to build up production capacity for the Vanta range at Flensburger Shipyard (FSG). It remains to be seen whether production-run boats will actually be built there: Following the NDR report of 7 October At that point, there were no orders for the Vanta 12.
Technical specifications according to Stark
| Characteristic | Information |
| Length × Width | approx. 12 × 4 m |
| Range | approx. 1,200 sm at 10 kn |
| Payload | up to 2,000 kg |
| Maximum speed | up to 40 kn |
| Weight | 13.7 tonnes |
| Possible armament | 10 Cascade and 4 Sea Venom |
Hauke Schmidt
Test & Technology editor
