Spanish company Troyan Drones has joined the Ocean Autonomy Cluster, strengthening the international dimension of the cluster with its innovative work in autonomous and sustainable maritime technology.

Troyan Drones develops autonomous navigation systems based on artificial vision and has created prototypes of both modular autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and an unmanned surface vessel (USV) with submersion capability. The company has also filed a patent for its USV concept.

Defense-first to accelerate safe autonomy

“Right now, the fastest path to mature, safe autonomy is through defense programs, which act as early adopters and real-world testbeds,” says Carlos de Troya, founder of Troyan Drones. “Civilian autonomous ship operations remain tightly regulated in most jurisdictions; proving reliability in demanding defense scenarios helps us de-risk the technology for future commercial use.”

Sustainability remains the North Star

While the company’s current deployments prioritize defense use cases, Troyan Drones continues R&D on zero-emission concepts—including hydrogen and wind-assist/sail designs—originating from its early project pipeline. “Our long-term vision is a safe and sustainable blue economy. Defense gets us there faster; hydrogen and wind-assist keep us aligned with that future,” de Troya adds.

Building partnerships in the ocean tech ecosystem

– We’re proving defense-grade autonomy to accelerate a safe, sustainable blue economy,” says De Troya

Through its membership in the Ocean Autonomy Cluster, Troyan Drones aims to build connections within the Norwegian and international ocean technology ecosystem. – We want to get to know the sector – and let the sector know us. Joining the cluster gives us the opportunity to find partners, learn and collaborate, he adds.

With its combination of Spanish technology, competitive products, and a clear ambition to make the naval sector autonomous, Troyan Drones represents a valuable new partner in the cluster’s growing global network.