Israeli company Skana Robotics has unveiled the autonomous amphibious vehicle ‘Alligator’, capable of independently moving from land to water and back. Designed for the delivery of goods and personnel, the ‘Alligator’ can operate both manned and unmanned, carrying and launching other autonomous systems such as underwater vehicles. According to co-founder and CEO of Skana Robotics, Idan Levy, the ‘Alligator’ is designed for areas where land, shallow water, and underwater tasks intersect, especially where coastal infrastructure is absent or damaged. ‘From the sea, the ‘Alligator’ approaches the shore with retracted tracks, like a regular watercraft,’ explains Levy. ‘The reverse process is similar: from the shore, the ‘Alligator’ rides down the coastline, enters the water on its tracks, stabilizes, then retracts the tracks and switches to full marine mode. The key point is that no ramps, piers, or cranes are needed.’
The vehicle boasts a payload capacity of 1500 kg, a range of approximately 555 km, and a top speed of up to 40 knots (46 mph). The ‘Alligator’s design ensures stable operation in shallow water and reliable traction on land. As developers note, the main task was to create a system where the characteristics for working on land and sea would not contradict each other. The ‘Alligator’ is part of Skana Robotics’ ‘connected fleet’ and exchanges real-time data with surface and underwater vehicles through the SeaSphere system, developed by the company for mission planning and resource allocation.
In addition to the ‘Alligator,’ Skana Robotics’ lineup includes the autonomous surface vehicle Bullshark and the autonomous underwater vehicle Stingray. The first full demonstration of the ‘Alligator’ is planned for the second quarter of 2026.
