US Navy's new Liberty Class warship can sail at sea for 90 days alone

Blue Water Autonomy, in partnership with Damen Shipyards, is developing the Liberty Class, a new autonomous naval vessel for the US Navy’s Modular Attack Surface Craft (MASC) program. Based on the proven commercial Damen Stan Patrol 6009 hull design, the 190-foot ship features a streamlined “axe bow” hull, a range exceeding 10,000 nautical miles, and a payload capacity over 150 metric tons. By leveraging this existing design, the company avoids lengthy traditional naval testing and validation processes, enabling rapid production and deployment. The Liberty Class is designed to support crewed ships by handling missile, sensor, and logistics payloads autonomously, allowing naval personnel to focus on more complex tasks. The Liberty Class differs from its commercial counterpart by being fully autonomous, eliminating the need for crew quarters and associated systems like plumbing and HVAC, which reduces manufacturing time. Blue Water Autonomy and Damen Shipyards are constructing these vessels at Conrad Shipyard in Louisiana using advanced automated panel lines, robotic assembly