Unmanned Craft News Roundup | August 8 – German-Cypriot USV partnership, Filipino-designed kamikaze drone and more
Deliveries include new USVs for operation in Nigeria and Canada. Engineers in the Philippines have begun work on a one-way attack drone while a partnership will introduce unmanned security craft in Mediterranean waters. Finally, the US Navy has started seeking proposals for a new modular attack vessel.
Partnership to develop USVs for maritime security missions in the Mediterranean
German maritime defence solutions company FLANQ and the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI) have entered into a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the development and deployment of unmanned surface vessels for maritime security and defence missions across the Mediterranean.
CMMI said the cooperation will focus on enhancing operational readiness in contested waters through advanced autonomous technologies.
US Navy seeking industry feedback for unmanned attack craft program
The US Navy released a solicitation seeking industry input in support of its "modular attack surface craft" (MASC) program on Monday, July 28.
The solicitation, open until August 11, 2025 invites industry partners to submit white papers or slide decks outlining their capabilities and proposed solutions for the MASC program.
Nigerian survey specialist welcomes new USV to fleet
Compass Survey, a hydrographic survey company operating out of Port Harcourt in Nigeria, has taken delivery of a new unmanned surface vehicle (USV) from Hong Kong-based maritime robotics specialist OceanAlpha.
The USV can be equipped with various sensors including single-beam and multi-beam echosounders, sub-bottom profilers, a towed magnetometer, and a towed side-scan sonar.
Filipino engineers unveil new kamikaze USV
A team of engineers from Mindanao State University (MSU) in the southern Philippines has commenced development of an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) intended for one-way attack or "kamikaze" missions.
Designated as the "Philippine autonomous littoral interdiction drone" (PALID), the 650kg USV is designed with a small profile nearly similar to that of a traditional "banca" civilian outrigger boat, according to Rembrandt Cajocon, one of the MSU engineers participating in the project.
New UK-built multi-role USV departs for Canada
An unmanned surface vehicle (USV) built by UK-based Zero USV has left UK waters following successful trials in Plymouth, bound for Canada where it will join Leeway Marine’s operational fleet under its new name of Viper.
Leeway Marine has been appointed as Zero USV’s first international franchisee, with exclusive rights to operate the 11.55-metre USV in Canada and the wider region on a charter basis.
