30kn
Max Speed
3.4m
Length
350kg
Payload
SS4
Sea State
12
Per Shipping Container
Multi-Week
Operational Endurance
0
Crew Risk
THE WHAI STORY
Named after the Māori stingray.
Built in New Zealand in less than 60 days.
Named after the Māori word for stingray, Whai reflects a design philosophy built around low observability, adaptability, and control in complex maritime environments. Developed in just two months by EDGE Defence, Whai demonstrates how proven technologies can be rapidly integrated into a production-ready sovereign platform, enabling faster iteration, testing, and deployment of new capability than any offshore alternative.
100% New Zealand designed and built, fully supported by veteran sovereign industry partners
Autonomous navigation ready
Waypoint following, RTH, and box patrolling demonstrated in NZ open water trails
30-knot sprint speed validated
Maximum speed confirmed across multiple sea trials in varying sea states up to SS4
Production ready
From design to water trials in less than 60 days. EDGE's proven rapid integratino and scalable production methodology deliver a 1 vessel/day run-rate using proven boat building practices that can be produced anywhere in the world with basic setup.
THE EDGE AUTONOMOUS ECOSYSTEM
One container. Twelve vessels.
Deployed anywhere in the world.
True capabilty density.
Whai is not a standalone product. It is the centrepiece of EDGE Defence's autonomous maritime ecosystem, designed, deployed, and sustained through the MODUS SWARM mission module. A single 20ft High Cube ISO container carries 12 Whai USVs and all the infrastructure needed to launch, recover, and sustain them. Deployable by ship, truck, rail, or air. No fixed base. No fuel supply chain. No crew at risk
12
WHAI USV PER CONTAINER
20ft
ISO High CUBE CONTAINER
4
TRANSPORT MODES
2
CONTAINER CONFIGURATIONS
12 x Whai USV Racked and ready
Once deployed, MODUS becomes USV sustainment centre
SIGNATURE MANAGEMENT
Designed to be hard to find.
Whai's low-profile design reduces both visual and radar cross-section in contested environments. Combined with all-electric jet propulsion — eliminating engine noise, exhaust, and propeller cavitation, Whai presents one of the lowest observable profiles in its class
Low Visual Profile
Low freeboard, reduced cross sectional area dramatically minimising visual detection in surveillance operations
Reduced radar observability
Hybrid composites combining magnetic components with dielectric loss materials delivers superior performance by balancing impedance matching and absorption.
Acoustic Stealth
All-electric drive delivers near-silent acoustic performance. Jet propulsion removes propeller caviation, significantly reducing acoustic signature, especially at loittering speeds
MISSION PROFILES
Three roles. One platform.
Frictionless integration opportunity.
ISR
FORCE PROTECTION
MULTI-MISSION
Survellance & Reconnaissance
Persistent over-the-horison ISR via Starlink. 350kg payload bay for EO/IR and radar suites. Low-observable extended loittering surveillance operations
Reduced Radar Observability
Hybrid composites combining magnetic components with dielectric loss materials delivers superior performance by balancing impedance matching and absorption.
Configurable Payload
Open Architecture 350kg bay with 48VDC power. Sensors, EW packages, comms relay, gateway comms - multi configured, not mission limited.
ENDURANCE
From sprint to persistent -
configured to each mission
Whai's low-profile design reduces both visual and radar cross-section in contested environments. Combined with all-electric jet propulsion — eliminating engine noise, exhaust, and propeller cavitation, Whai presents one of the lowest observable profiles in its class
BASE CONFIGURATION
+ HYBRID GENERATOR
+ EMBEDDED SOLAR
35nm
Modular, scalable battery only. 15 knots cruise spped. Ideal for short-range ISR and rapid response tasking
Multi-day
Drop-in hybrid generation plus fuel cell module extends operations across multiple days without recovery at cruise speed.
Multi-Week
Onboard solar generation enables persistent loittering and extended range profiles for weeks
At loittering speed, WHAI becomes energy neutral thanks to embedded solar generation, extending endurance
On demand, WHAI achieves sprint-speed of 30 knots in just seconds
USV WHAI PLATFORM SPECIFICATIONS
Complete Capability
MODUS SWARM SPECIFICATIONS
The deployment & sustainment system
All-electric. No Fuel. No signature.
PROPULSION ADVANTAGE
The 48VDC jet-drive is not just a propulsion choice - it is a tactical advantage. No propeller means no cavitation signature, shallower draft and safer operation around divers and small craft. All electric means no fuel, no emissions and a dramatically simplified logistics footprint for forward-deployed operations
Electric-drive + jet propulsion = near silent engine noise with no propeller cavitation
No combustion exhaust or hot surfaces above the waterline. Minimal infared profile compared to diesel or petrol platforms
Charges for ship, shore, or renewable soruces. No fuel supply chain forward.
Generating high continuous power output in an electric motor can present a challenge as it produces a high degree of heat, but our electric motor utilises an innovative closed loop cooling system. This results in our motor being 61% smaller and 33% lighter per kW than other units on the market. The motor is further optimised to run at lower speeds for the jet pump, with simple direct-drive configuration eliminating gearbox losses, noise and maintenance
Efficiency is critical in all-electric uncrewed systems. our pump is specifically designed for the high torque, low speed operation of an electric motor. The pump has been specifically tuned for small craft at lower average planing speeds. Conventional jet units are designed for high speed, and are typically highly innefficient at lower speeds, this is not the case with our system