Celebrated by defense actors for its flying ships, the Lorient company SEAir confirms its change of direction by developing marine drones on foils. To support this acceleration, the company is finalizing a fundraising of 4 million euros, to transition from the demonstrator to an industrializable product.
Founded in 2016 in Lorient, SEAir has made a name for itself with its unique technology and know-how: making ships fly. After gaining experience in the luxury sector (yachts and super-yachts) and in VIP marine taxis, the Breton SME is carving out its path in the closed and demanding defense sector. Supported by the European Defence Agency, SEAir is coordinating the Arrow project for the construction of a 12-meter drone ship. To support this acceleration, the company is finalizing a fundraising of 4 million euros, to transition from the demonstrator to an industrializable product.
SEAir’s technology provides a concrete response to the challenges of modern navies and military fleets. “By flying the boat, fuel consumption is reduced by 50%, allowing missions to double their autonomy. More importantly, the stability provided by the foils allows high-speed navigation even in rough seas, where conventional drones are forced to slow down. This stability is crucial for the precision of the onboard radars and sensors, providing a decisive tactical advantage,” explains Richard Forest, founder and president of SEAir.
Supported by the European Union
To solidify its transition from a design office to a shipbuilder, SEAir needs to strengthen its own resources to accelerate its transformation and meet the lucrative market it now operates in. “The design of a 12-meter autonomous surface drone, funded with 8 million euros by the European Union under the Arrow project, has allowed us to take a step forward and integrate an industrial logic,” emphasizes the director. Therefore, to reinforce this logic and remain a leader in the military market for marine drones ranging from 8 to 20 meters in size – a strategic market estimated at 5 billion euros – SEAir is finalizing a fundraising of 4 million euros.
Key Element for Sovereignty
“This diverse round of funding is strategically aimed at ensuring the independence and growth of the company,” emphasizes Richard Forest, who secures this transformation with additional contributions of 9 million euros from European funds and another 3 million euros from institutional and industrial funds. Simultaneously, a crowdfunding campaign is open on the SouvTech Invest platform for potential individual investors.
“The entire capital will be used to finance the transition to the industrial stage with the goal of achieving a turnover of 60 million euros by 2030,” announces Richard Forest, who can rely on the technology expertise deployed to build the future of his company. In ten years, SEAir has sold 16 ships on four continents. “These over 10,000 hours of navigation have fueled R&D and tested the resistance of composite materials, the retractability of our foils, and the precision of the integrated autopilot systems. This experience has naturally guided our transition to the national defense sector,” concludes the founder and president of SEAir.
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