Large USV to undergo operational trials with US Navy

Austal USA has launched a new large unmanned surface vehicle (USV) designed for ocean mapping and maritime domain awareness missions.

The 65-foot (20-metre) USV was developed by unmanned systems specialist Saildrone. The vessel is powered by wind energy, solar energy, and a diesel generator for long-range, long-endurance missions in the open ocean.

Austal is currently producing one USV from the same series every six weeks, with the ability to scale up production as demand requires.

The USV is contracted to the US Navy for initial testing and evaluation in multiple environments. Missions will focus on the ability of the craft to deliver both surface and undersea intelligence for a range of high-priority applications, including anti-submarine warfare.