Fairbanks Morse Defense Unveils Autonomous Vessel Recovery System

Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD) has unveiled AutoHook, an autonomous vessel recovery interface developed by its Norway-based business Vestdavit, designed to recover uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and other craft without manual connections.

Introduced at EURONAVAL 2026 in Paris on November 2, the system is designed to automate the active recovery phase of launch and recovery operations, with FMD reporting that it has achieved operational acceptance at Sea State 4.

AutoHook uses onboard vision technology and integrated thrusters to track and secure moving vessels during recovery, eliminating the need for crew intervention during the capture process.

Following deployment of a mechanical floating catching device, the system autonomously tracks, secures and recovers the vessel.

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