Forum Energy Technologies (FET) has inked a deal with a major shipbuilder to equip a European navy with its Super Mohawk Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) system. The contract underscores a growing trend: navies are bulking up their subsea capabilities, and FET is positioning itself as a go-to supplier.
The Super Mohawk was chosen for its compact size and high payload capacity, allowing it to be fitted with advanced gear tailored for naval operations. The system will be built at FET’s Kirkbymoorside facility in the UK, customised to the customer’s specs. This isn’t just another order—it’s a strategic win for FET’s long-term vision.
“This award supports our company’s long-term strategy, FET 2030, to expand our role in an increasing trend of defense bodies investing in their subsea capabilities. We are bringing decades of offshore deepwater remote vehicle expertise to supply defense equipment and services to various countries across Europe and Asia,” said Kevin Taylor, Vice President Operations Subsea at Forum Energy Technologies.
The Super Mohawk is a versatile workhorse, suited for observation, survey work, pipelay support, light to medium tasks, and even non-destructive testing inspections. When delivered, this system will come packed with multiple skids loaded with client-specified sensors, designed for mission-critical operations.
This isn’t FET’s first rodeo with naval contracts. Prior to this, the company had already secured over 20 ROV contracts with navies worldwide. Most recently, FET landed a deal to supply the Indonesian Navy with a submarine rescue vehicle (SRV) system, complete with launch, recovery, and decompression systems.
FET’s ROVs aren’t just for naval use—they’re deployed globally across industries like energy, telecommunications, mining, aquaculture, and academia. But this latest contract highlights a pivot towards defense, where the demand for advanced subsea tech is heating up.
As navies worldwide ramp up their underwater capabilities, companies like FET are stepping in to fill the gap. The Super Mohawk’s blend of compact design and heavy-duty performance makes it a strong contender in this evolving market. And with FET’s decades of experience in deepwater remote vehicle operations, the company is well-placed to meet the growing demand for defense-grade subsea technology.
This deal isn’t just about selling a piece of equipment—it’s about leveraging expertise to meet a critical need. As Taylor put it, FET is bringing its deepwater know-how to the defense sector, and this contract is a clear signal that the strategy is paying off.