USV

Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) are autonomous or remotely operated watercraft designed to perform naval missions without crew aboard. The U.S. Navy is developing several classes of USVs as part of its vision for a hybrid fleet combining manned warships with unmanned platforms. Large USVs like the Overlord program's test vessels are over 60 meters long and could eventually carry weapons, while medium USVs focus on mine warfare and surveillance.

Ukraine's innovative use of unmanned surface vessels against the Russian Black Sea Fleet has demonstrated the potential of these systems in combat. Small, expendable USVs carrying warheads have successfully attacked and damaged Russian warships, including the cruiser Moskva and several patrol boats, at a cost of roughly $250,000 per drone compared to the hundreds of millions each Russian warship cost to build. This asymmetric exchange rate has transformed Black Sea naval operations.

Naval mine countermeasures is another major USV application. Detecting and clearing sea mines is one of the most dangerous naval missions, and USVs equipped with mine-hunting sonar and neutralization systems can clear minefields without risking crew. The combination of mine-hunting USVs, anti-submarine USVs, and ISR USVs promises to extend the reach of surface fleets while reducing the risk to sailors and the cost of operations.