PBO Marine starts building solar and wind powered Sail Machines USV

PBO Marine, France-based innovative marine robotics developer, has announced the beginning of construction its first 6.5m USV in France, leveraging national industrial know‑how in naval architecture and composites. Production site will be announced separately, but in parallel, sea trials are already underway on a fast‑hull prototype to validate performance and mission capabilities ahead of the final build.

The USV is conceived as a multi‑use platform:
? scientific missions: enabling long‑endurance research campaigns in complex and remote environments, such as high seas, polar regions, or post‑disaster areas;
? civil applications: oceanographic survey, environmental monitoring, offshore infrastructure inspection;
? defense & security applications: maritime domain awareness, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance), coastal security, and support for naval operations including swarm capabilities.

Sail Machines USV specifications:
? rigid‑wing sail propulsion;
? hybrid power system (wind + solar + auxiliary) for long endurance missions;
? modular payload bays.

The project is currently self‑funded and supported by private industrial partners, with ongoing discussions with institutional and defense stakeholders for strategic co‑funding and acceleration. Moreover PBO Marin is opened to strategic investors, particularly those with interest in dual‑use maritime technologies, to join the project in scaling production and expanding operational capabilities.

Looking ahead, our ambition goes further: to develop swarms of interoperable USVs and subsea vehicles, using innovative docking systems for in‑field recharging, data transfer, and collaborative operations. This positions our platform as a strategic enabler for multi‑domain maritime operations, combining surface and subsea capabilities.

The first prototype to be operational within 6–8 months. It will initially be based on the French Atlantic coast for trials, defense demonstrations, and investor presentations. A majority of components are locally sourced in France and the EU, ensuring industrial sovereignty and compliance with defense‑grade standards.

PBO Marine, founded in La Trinité-sur-Mer by maritime technology pioneer Pierre Bourcier, designs and develops sustainable, long-endurance maritime drones for scientific, industrial, and defense applications. Pierre Bourcier is a pioneer in maritime technology and has been instrumental in developing France’s first generation of floating drones. Sail Machines is a registered brand of PBO Marine, representing a new generation of autonomous floating drones designed for long-range, long-duration offshore operations.

?? Source: PBO Marine