Kraken Robotics continues to evolve from a specialized Canadian underwater technology supplier into an increasingly important participant in NATO-aligned naval modernization, autonomous mine countermeasures and subsea defence systems.
Company-reported figures. Guidance includes six months of Covelya operations; the C$355M order figure combines both businesses and is not equivalent to recognized revenue.
Kraken's rapid expansion brings acquisition-integration risk, potential shareholder dilution, defence procurement delays and valuation sensitivity. Q2 standalone revenue grew only 4%, and the company recorded a C$7.5 million net loss, highlighting the need to distinguish order momentum from realized earnings.
Kraken Robotics (PNG): Beyond KATFISH — The New Technology Portfolio
Investment and technology review | November 2, 2026
Kraken Robotics is evolving from a specialist in high-resolution underwater sonar into something potentially much more valuable: an integrated supplier of underwater sensing, autonomous navigation, optical imaging, subsea intelligence and advanced batteries.
The acquisition of the Covelya Group companies is particularly significant. It gives Kraken the opportunity to combine technologies that previously belonged to separate businesses into complete underwater surveillance and mine-countermeasure systems.
For investors, the important distinction is between technologies Kraken invented, technologies it acquired, and new integrated capabilities it can now offer.
KATFISH remains a flagship product, but several other technologies deserve attention, particularly those applicable to NATO submarine operations, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), Arctic surveillance and seabed infrastructure protection.
1. The technologies I consider most important
SeaPower advanced batteries — developed by Kraken
High investment significance
These pressure-tolerant batteries power underwater drones, allowing longer missions without surfacing. Kraken has developed a higher-energy-density design for large and extra-large UUVs, delivering approximately 30% improvement over its previous design, plus a compact design targeting smaller vehicles.
Why it matters: Kraken can supply batteries to competing underwater-drone manufacturers, regardless of whose sonar they use. A 2026 master supply agreement for XL-UUV batteries supports this opportunity.
Circular Synthetic Aperture Sonar (C-SAS) — developed by Kraken
Emerging technology
A dual-frequency sonar system designed to image seabed objects from a full 360-degree range of viewing angles. This can improve object classification and identification beyond conventional straight-line sonar passes.
Why it matters: Potentially valuable for confirming suspicious objects, identifying underwater hazards and inspecting seabed infrastructure. It is a development milestone, not yet evidence of widespread commercial adoption.
SPRINT-Nav — acquired through Sonardyne
Combines inertial navigation, Doppler velocity measurements and depth sensing to help underwater vehicles know their position when GPS signals cannot reach them.
Why it matters: Navigation is essential for virtually every autonomous underwater vehicle, whether deployed for minehunting, reconnaissance, submarine support or scientific surveys. It creates an opportunity for recurring platform sales beyond sonar.
Sentinel Intruder Detection Sonar — acquired through Wavefront
An underwater security system that automatically detects, classifies and tracks divers, swimmer delivery vehicles and underwater drones approaching protected facilities.
Why it matters: Direct application to naval bases, ports, energy facilities and critical maritime infrastructure. Kraken reported new demand in Europe and the Middle East during 2026.
Discovery Stereo and underwater optical imaging — acquired through Voyis
Advanced underwater cameras and optical perception systems capable of producing detailed imagery and supporting three-dimensional reconstruction of subsea objects.
Why it matters: Sonar finds suspicious objects at distance; optical imaging helps establish precisely what they are. Combining these capabilities can strengthen autonomous mine identification and infrastructure inspection.
NaviSuite and visual SLAM — acquired through EIVA
Software for underwater navigation, mission planning, survey processing and three-dimensional mapping. Visual simultaneous localization and mapping (VSLAM) helps vehicles estimate their position while building a map of their surroundings.
Why it matters: Software can turn separate sonar, camera and navigation products into an integrated autonomous mission capability. It also creates potential for software licensing and ongoing support.
Vigilant Forward-Looking Sonar — acquired through Sonardyne
Detects obstacles ahead of underwater and surface vehicles, helping them navigate safely in complex environments.
Why it matters: Obstacle avoidance is a fundamental requirement for autonomous underwater missions. Kraken reported record deliveries of Vigilant systems in its August 2026 update.
2. Other technologies now within Kraken
Technology | Origin | Strategic application |
|---|
Multi-Aperture Sonar (MAS) | Covelya | Underwater detection, classification and AUV missions |
ScanFish remotely operated towed vehicles | EIVA | Seabed surveys and sensor deployment |
Sub-bottom imaging and acoustic coring | Kraken / PanGeo | Locating buried objects and studying seabed geology |
Underwater LiDAR | 3D at Depth acquisition | Precision 3D inspection of pipelines, cables and infrastructure |
Acoustic positioning and underwater communications | Sonardyne | Coordinating autonomous vehicles and underwater assets |
Seabed pressure sensors | Covelya portfolio | Persistent subsea monitoring and detection applications |
These are established or developing capabilities, not necessarily products invented since the July 2026 Covelya closing. Kraken's August disclosure specifically identified orders for monitoring systems, seabed pressure sensors and ScanFish vehicles.
3. The most revealing development: REPMUS 2026
The recent NATO-aligned REPMUS exercise in Portugal provides an important illustration of the acquisition's strategic value.
As you previously highlighted, Kraken reported the following results:
Kraken synthetic aperture sonar
21/21
Targets detected and classified across eight survey areas
Voyis imaging + EIVA software
100%
Reported target identification rate in the exercise
The exercise demonstrated how the technologies complement one another:
Kraken SAS
Detects and classifies potential threats
Voyis optical imaging
Captures detailed images of identified targets
EIVA NaviSuite / VSLAM
Supports localization, mapping and target identification
Integrated underwater intelligence
More complete information for naval operators and autonomous systems
The results are encouraging evidence of interoperability, although controlled exercises do not establish performance under every operational condition.
An important qualification: these systems principally support mine detection, classification and identification. Physical mine neutralization or recovery generally requires additional equipment and procedures.
4. Which technologies have the greatest investment potential?
My ranking is based on addressable markets, potential adoption across multiple platforms and opportunities to increase Kraken's revenue per customer—not on announced product-specific profit margins.
Rank | Technology | 2–4 year outlook |
|---|
1 | SeaPower batteries | Very high — growing UUV market and potential production-volume contracts |
2 | SPRINT-Nav and underwater positioning | Very high — essential equipment across multiple vehicle classes |
3 | Integrated SAS, Voyis and EIVA systems | High — differentiated end-to-end naval capability |
4 | Sentinel security sonar | High — ports, naval bases and critical infrastructure |
5 | Circular SAS | Promising — commercial uptake still needs validation |
6 | Underwater LiDAR and sub-bottom imaging | Moderate to high — attractive commercial and defence niches |
The market opportunity is already extending beyond demonstrations. Kraken reported approximately C$355 million in combined announced 2026 orders by August 27, across Kraken and Covelya, covering products such as batteries, navigation, positioning, sonar and monitoring equipment. This is an announced-orders measure, not recognized revenue or a current backlog figure.
5. My investment assessment
I believe the most significant consequence of the Covelya acquisition is that Kraken no longer needs to win the entire underwater-drone contract to benefit from it.
Consider an allied navy commissioning a fleet of autonomous underwater vehicles. Kraken may be able to supply the batteries, navigation, positioning, sonar, imaging and mission software, even when another defence contractor builds the vehicle itself.
This is a potentially powerful business model because it broadens Kraken's customer base and increases the value of its components on each platform.
It is particularly relevant to NATO's increasing interest in persistent underwater surveillance, protection of subsea cables and pipelines, and autonomous operations in challenging maritime environments.
The principal investment risks remain acquisition integration, defence procurement delays, competition from established naval technology suppliers, and the possibility that the share price already discounts substantial growth.
My conclusion: SeaPower batteries and the acquired Sonardyne navigation technologies could ultimately be as important to Kraken's commercial growth as KATFISH. The combination of Kraken SAS, Voyis optical imaging and EIVA software may become its most differentiated integrated defence offering.
The next evidence I would watch is whether Kraken begins winning substantial contracts explicitly bundling several of these technologies together, rather than selling individual components.
That would be a meaningful indication that the Covelya acquisition is delivering strategic value beyond simply adding six established companies and their existing revenues.
My outlook remains bullish for 2027. Kraken's combination of advanced sonar, subsea batteries, autonomous systems integration and established NATO customer relationships gives it an increasingly attractive competitive position.
