A new submersible for the Swedish Armed Forces has completed undergoing sea trials while the Hellenic Navy has evaluated USVs for possible purchase. Construction recently began on new mine warfare systems for the Indonesian Navy as Taiwan has placed orders for surface craft for coast guard duties. Lastly, the US military has begun seeking production-ready examples of unmanned boats capable of counter-drone missions.
The US Department of War, through the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), is seeking unmanned surface vehicles (USV) ready for production, armed to detect, track and engage drones and helicopters at ranges beyond three nautical miles.
Up to US$40 million is on offer. Proposals must be submitted on or before November 30, 2026.
The competition is part of the 12-month Suitable Warfighting Adaptive Payloads for Unmanned Surface Vessels prize challenge, which DIU runs with the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems.
DIU said it, "seeks integrated combinations of mature USVs and hard-kill counter-air effectors suitable for forward operational fielding within 120 days."
Saab, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), and the Swedish Armed Forces have completed sea trials of a large unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) demonstrator, the company said on Friday, October 16.
Saab said the UUV was developed, built, and launched less than a year after contract award and that the project's first phase has now concluded. The next phase is expected to focus on developing more advanced capabilities.
Results from the demonstrator will help advance software, sensor and autonomous function work, as well as future product development.
The FMV-led project is also intended to serve as a foundation for Swedish authorities' decisions about acquiring autonomous underwater systems in the future and using them operationally.
The Hellenic Navy has completed an evaluation of US-based Saronic Technologies’ new unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), leading the Greek Government to submit a letter of request (LOR) to the United States to procure the craft through the foreign military sales (FMS) programme.
Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias said that the USV was recently evaluated by the navy. The minister added that the craft is capable of, “surveillance, reconnaissance and collaborative autonomous action in swarms.”
Several fleet units took part during the tests, which also included tactical cooperation with warships. The Hellenic Navy fleet support ship HS Perseas transported the USVs.
Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) will acquire a yet-unspecified quantity of autonomous surface vessels from US manufacturer Maritime Tactical Systems (MARTAC), the company announced on Tuesday, October 13.
MARTAC said the vessels will be co-produced. Some will be built at a strategic partner's facility in Edgewater, Florida, and the remainder will be built in Taiwan by local partner Confucian.
The company did not disclose the contract value, delivery schedule or production split.
"One of the most important reasons the Taiwan Government selected Martac was the company's willingness, from the very beginning, to establish co-production in Taiwan," said Confucian CEO James Lee. He described the order as the CGA's first unmanned surface vessel (USV) programme
French maritime robotic systems specialist Exail has begun production of an unmanned mine countermeasures integrated system (UMIS) ordered by the Indonesian Navy.
The package comprises four unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), mine-identification remotely operated vehicles, and expendable mine disposal systems.
Indonesia has also chosen a towed sonar system and an influence sweep system from European suppliers with prior experience working with Exail. The latter will integrate both systems and provide the corresponding equipment for their launch and recovery.
The contract also covers training for Indonesian Navy personnel in France and Indonesia.
