Articles tagged with "unmanned-surface-vehicle"
Navy's sea drone trials high-speed minehunting with Northrop's sonar
Northrop Grumman has successfully integrated its AN/AQS-24 minehunting sonar system with a Mine Countermeasures Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV), marking a significant advancement in the US Navy’s efforts to deploy uncrewed solutions for detecting and clearing naval mines. The demonstration, conducted in Panama City, Florida, occurred just 45 days after Northrop Grumman secured a Navy contract and confirmed that the system met all primary government objectives, including performance, safety, and operational effectiveness. This integration enables a remotely operated, towed minehunting capability that reduces risks to sailors and crewed aircraft, aligning with the Navy’s strategic shift toward uncrewed mine countermeasures to replace legacy systems and operate effectively in contested maritime environments. The AN/AQS-24B/C is a high-performance, helicopter-towed sonar system designed for rapid detection, localization, and classification of both bottom and moored naval mines at speeds up to 18 knots. It employs high-resolution side
robotunmanned-surface-vehicleminehunting-sonarnaval-minesNorthrop-Grummanmilitary-roboticsautonomous-maritime-systemsUS' new unmanned attack boat to offer 67,000-pound payload capacity
The US Navy is developing a new unmanned Modular Attack Surface Craft (MASC) by BlackSea Technologies, designed from the keel up as a 66-foot aluminum catamaran with a payload capacity exceeding 67,000 pounds—double that of comparable vessels. Powered by dual Volvo Penta D8-IPS600 integrated propulsion units, the vessel offers a 3,000 nautical mile range at 10 knots and an extended self-deploying range of 10,000 nautical miles. Its design emphasizes modularity and operational flexibility, supporting seven mission profiles including Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti-Surface Warfare, Electronic Warfare/ISR, Logistics, Infrastructure Monitoring, Strike, and Mine Warfare. BlackSea’s MASC leverages proven autonomy systems and production methods from its Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) line, enabling rapid manufacturing at its Baltimore facility with a target of one craft per day. The vessel’s open architecture is built on the Navy’s Unmanned Maritime Autonomy
unmanned-surface-vehiclemodular-attack-boatnaval-roboticsautonomous-maritime-systemsmarine-energy-systemsaluminum-materialsmilitary-technologyFrench firm's drone boat autonomously completes 1,100-mile-long voyage
A French company, Exail, has successfully completed an unprecedented autonomous maritime voyage with its uncrewed surface vehicle (USV), the DriX O-16. The 52-foot vessel traveled 1,100 nautical miles (2,000 km) from La Ciotat, France, to Troia, Portugal, crossing the busy Strait of Gibraltar in six days without any port stops. Operated under supervised autonomy from Exail’s Remote Operation Center, the mission demonstrated the USV’s endurance, situational awareness, and reliable decision-making in dense maritime traffic, marking a significant milestone in large USV operational capability. The DriX O-16 is designed for long-range missions, capable of up to 30 days of autonomous operation with a range of 3,500 nautical miles. It features a dual hybrid propulsion system combining electric and diesel power to ensure energy efficiency, operational safety, and extended endurance. During the voyage, the vessel also conducted seabed mapping using a Kongs
robotautonomous-vehicleunmanned-surface-vehiclehybrid-propulsionmaritime-droneremote-operationenergy-efficiencyWorld's largest unmanned surface vehicle gets approval for ocean missions
The Saildrone Surveyor, a fully autonomous 65-foot-long unmanned surface vehicle (USV), has become the world’s largest USV to receive class certification from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). This certification, awarded on August 27, 2025, confirms that the Surveyor meets stringent international safety and design standards, enabling it to conduct extended deep-sea missions independently across all oceans. Developed by California-based Saildrone Technologies, the Surveyor is designed for ocean mapping, maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, supporting military, homeland security, and commercial operations in some of the most challenging marine environments. This milestone reflects years of investment by ABS to adapt classification standards to emerging autonomous maritime technologies. The Surveyor’s certification signals its maturity, safety, and readiness for large-scale deployment, marking a significant advancement in autonomous maritime operations. Unlike smaller models such as the 32-foot Voyager, the Surveyor’s long-endurance and deepwater capabilities greatly expand the operational potential of
robotautonomous-vehicleunmanned-surface-vehiclemaritime-technologyocean-mappingSaildroneABS-certificationLeaked details reveal China's uncrewed vessel with stealth design
Leaked information and images from rehearsals for China’s upcoming Victory Day military parade reveal a new unmanned surface vessel featuring advanced stealth design elements. The drone boat, painted in the Chinese navy’s white-grey-blue camouflage and lacking visible hull numbers, incorporates concealed antennas and radar to minimize infrared, visual, and acoustic detection. Its angular, faceted hull suggests an emphasis on low observability, although it remains unclear if radar-absorbent materials are used. Notably, the vessel includes cockpit windows, indicating it can be operated both autonomously and by a crew, enhancing its versatility for surveillance, patrol, and potentially combat missions. The craft is sizable—estimated at over 15 meters (49 feet) long—capable of housing sophisticated equipment or personnel. This new uncrewed surface vehicle contrasts with China’s previously unveiled larger stealth drone, the “Killer Whale,” a 500-tonne trimaran with high speed and long range, designed as a multi-role combat platform. The appearance
robotautonomous-vesselsstealth-technologyunmanned-surface-vehiclenaval-dronesmilitary-roboticsdrone-boatUS firm unveils 300-horsepower robot boat built to hunt enemy vessels
Scientific Systems, a Massachusetts-based defense technology firm, has unveiled VENOM, a 9-meter, 300-horsepower autonomous surface drone designed for high-speed interdiction, persistent surveillance, and distributed maritime operations. VENOM features a high-density polyethylene hull for durability and low noise, and is powered by an outboard diesel engine enabling speeds over 35 knots, a cruising range exceeding 500 nautical miles at 24 knots, and loitering endurance of 130 hours. These performance metrics surpass US Navy requirements for unmanned interceptors. The drone demonstrated advanced autonomous capabilities during sea trials, including navigation through complex maritime environments, patrolling, and intercepting non-cooperative vessels, supporting missions such as force protection, contested logistics, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance (ISR), and maritime interdiction. Built as a software-defined system, VENOM integrates AI-driven autonomy developed in partnership with Tideman Marine and Sea Machines Robotics, emphasizing modularity, scalability, affordability, and rapid deployment. It
robotautonomous-vehiclesunmanned-surface-vehiclenaval-technologyAI-autonomyhigh-density-polyethylenemaritime-roboticsRobot boats turn deadly as Ukraine arms them with heavy bomber drones
Ukraine has advanced its naval drone capabilities by using uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), specifically the Magura V5, as mobile launch platforms for heavy quadcopter bomber drones. In a notable first, a Ukrainian naval drone boat successfully launched a heavy UAV during a maritime strike on July 1–2, 2025, targeting and destroying key components of the Russian Nebo-M radar system in occupied Crimea. This radar system is integral to Russia’s air defense, linked with S-300 and S-400 missile networks, and includes multiple truck-mounted radar arrays and a command post. The operation involved the drone boat approaching covertly, acting as a communications relay via satellite uplink, enabling remote control of the UAV deep inside enemy territory, which destroyed three critical radar elements. This strike exemplifies Ukraine’s evolving unmanned warfare doctrine, integrating sea-based drone carriers with airborne UAVs to extend operational reach and precision strike capabilities. Since early 2023, Ukraine’s Magura fleet has demonstrated
robotunmanned-surface-vehicledrone-technologymilitary-roboticsnaval-dronesUAVautonomous-systemsNew 20-ton twin-sonar drone will hunt submarines in open seas
South Korea’s defense technology firm SonarTech has unveiled the ASW-USV, a pioneering 20-ton twin-sonar unmanned surface vessel designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and mine countermeasures. Supported by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the 5.8-meter-long, 2-ton-class drone features a non-magnetic, fiber-reinforced polymer hull with a wave-piercing design that reduces fuel consumption and acoustic signature, enabling up to 150 hours of endurance. Powered by a hybrid electric motor and diesel generator, it can reach speeds of 14 knots. The ASW-USV is equipped with two advanced sonar systems: a Long-Range Active Sonar capable of detecting targets up to 30 kilometers away and submerging sensors to 240 meters depth, and a Side-Scan Sonar housed in an underwater gondola for detailed target classification at depths of 150 meters with lateral coverage of 600 meters. Its unique integration of
robotunmanned-surface-vehiclesonar-technologyautonomous-maritime-systemsfiber-reinforced-polymerenergy-efficiencyanti-submarine-warfare