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Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)

Latest in Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)

A view of the Chinese Type 052D guided missile destroyer from the Seasats Lightfish uncrewed surface vessel.
Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)

Chinese Destroyer’s Encounter With U.S. Drone Boat Highlights Future Rules Of Engagement Issues

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jul 30, 2026

Just days after the U.S. military publicly acknowledged using kamikaze drone boats in combat for the first time, the Navy has confirmed that its GARC uncrewed surface vessel (USV) took part in its first live-fire strike. The kamikaze drone boat was employed during RIMPAC 2026, attacking the former USS Peleliu in the exercise’s high-profile SINKEX.
Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)

Navy’s GARC Kamikaze Drone Boat Blew A Hole In Ex-USS Peleliu During Sinking Exercise

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 27, 2026

A robotic boat glides through the darkness, reaches an occupied shoreline, and releases an armed ground robot that rolls inland to fight without a single soldier setting foot on the beach. While this sounds like a scene from a future war, it recently played out in southern Ukraine, reflecting Kyiv’s rapid embrace of uncrewed systems as it seeks to counter Russia's invasion. Described as the first of its kind anywhere in the world, the operation took place on the Russian-occupied Kinburn Spit in Ukraine's southern Mykolaiv region, according to Ukraine’s 123rd Separate Territorial Defense Brigade, which carried it out on an unspecified recent date.
Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)

Ukraine Lands Armed Robot Ashore In Russian-Held Territory Via Drone Boat

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 13, 2026

The U.S. used kamikaze drones boats for the first time in combat.
Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)

Kamikaze Drone Boats Used By U.S. In Combat For The First Time (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jul 13, 2026

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed a Saronic Corsair was the uncrewed surface vessel (USV) that rescued the crew of a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache out of the Gulf of Oman overnight.
Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)

This Is The Corsair Drone Boat That Plucked The Downed Apache Crew Out Of The Gulf Of Oman

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 9, 2026

AH-64 went down into the gulf of Oman with drone boat recovering the crew.
Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)

AH-64 Apache Crew Rescued By Drone Boat After Going Down Near Strait Of Hormuz (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jun 9, 2026

Saildrone specter launching a missile.
Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)

Saildrone’s Missile-Toting Spectre Enters Navy’s Medium-Sized Unmanned Ship Competition

By Hope Hodge Seck

Updated on Apr 23, 2026

The Marines are keeping an eye on the progress of a seaglider drone.
Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)

Regent Squire Wing-In-Ground Effect Drone Demonstrator Makes First Flight

By Howard Altman

Posted on Apr 13, 2026

The U.S. Navy has unveiled a "marketplace" model for acquiring future fleets of uncrewed surface vessels (USV), which could be owned and/or operated by the service or contractors.
Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)

Navy’s Drone Ship Plans Get Shaken Up Again

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 26, 2026

Drone boat attack, first of operation Epic Fury.
Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)

Iranian Kamikaze Drone Boat Makes First Successful Strike Of War

By Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 2, 2026

Four decommissioned U.S. Navy Avenger class mine countermeasures ships have left Bahrain on what may be their final voyage aboard a larger heavy lift vessel.
Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)

Navy’s Avenger Class Mine Hunters Have Left The Middle East For Good

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 26, 2026

Ukraine has expanded its uncrewed surface vessel attacks to the Dnipro River.
Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)

Ukraine Now Using Drone Boats To Attack Russian Riverine Targets

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 26, 2025

Russia carried out a retaliation strike for Ukraine's attacks on its ships.
Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)

Russian Retaliation Strike Raises Stakes In Black Sea Shipping War

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 12, 2025

Crew Optional Designs Could Be Barred By Law From Navy’s Drone Ship Program
Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)

Crew Optional Designs Could Be Barred By Law From Navy’s Drone Ship Program

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 11, 2025

We have gotten our best look so far at China’ mysterious, trimaran-hulled vessel, the purpose of which remains unknown.
Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)

China’s Mysterious Submarine-Ship Hybrid Breaks Cover

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 3, 2025

Russia has created a new military branch, called the Unmanned Systems Forces, to oversee drone operations, development and testing.
Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)

Russia Creates New Military Branch Dedicated To Drone Warfare

By Howard Altman

Posted on Nov 13, 2025