unmanned surface vessel Archives

U.S. Coast Guard Crew members assigned to Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutter USCGC Emlen Tunnell (WPC 1145) man their battle stations as the cutter prepares for a live-fire exercise while transiting the South China Sea, June 6, 2026. The Coast Guard Expeditionary Cutter Squadron is a deployable force of Fast Response Cutters with organic command, logistics and support capabilities, enabling sustained forward operations from partner nation locations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Dakota L. David)

Coast Guard issues RFI as it considers arming vessels with high-energy lasers

Primary “targets of interest” that the service might want to zap include aerial and maritime drones.

Jul 20, 2026 By Jon Harper

U.S. military uses Corsair maritime drones to attack Iran

The robotic platforms, which are built by Saronic, were recently employed in an attack against Iran for the first time.

Jul 13, 2026 By Jon Harper

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth hosts a drone demonstration at the Pentagon, July 10, 2025. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alondra Y. Lopez Gonzalez)

Hegseth realigning DOD’s scattered unmanned and autonomy work under new drone boss

A Pentagon spokesperson declined to share whether an interim DRPM-UxS director has been named.

Jul 1, 2026 By Brandi Vincent

U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 125th Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, prepare and launch an unmanned surface vessel, during Exercise Balikatan 2026, in La Paz Sand Dunes, Laoag City, Philippines, Apr. 29, 2026. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Omarion Hall)

SOCOM looking to mount new ELINT capabilities on maritime drones

The command and the SOFWERX innovation hub are spearheading a new market research effort to see what industry has to offer.

Jun 11, 2026 By Jon Harper

An AH-64E Apache assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, prepares to land in a forward arming and refueling point in order to receive refuel before conducting operations for Operation Epic Fury in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, May 2, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo)

Trump recounts how Army pilots involved in helicopter crash and drone boat rescue were ‘very lucky’

"That bomb was lodged in the helicopter, it didn't explode, it was on fire, but it didn't explode," Trump said.

Jun 10, 2026 By Jon Harper

Autonomous Corsair maritime drone rescues US military pilots after crash near Oman

It marks the U.S. military’s first publicized use of an unmanned surface vessel to recover aircrew in real-world warfare.

Jun 9, 2026 By Brandi Vincent

Lt. Col. Lauren Cabral, commander of the 834th Transportation Battalion, Transcom commander Gen. Randall Reed, and representatives from their teams connected on port diversification and civil utilities initiatives at Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO) in California, June 2, 2026. (Photo by Brandi Vincent)

Transcom leaders briefed on recent West Coast maritime drone demo

Officials involved suggested that a notable portion of the effort focused on developing the tactics, techniques, and procedures for manned-unmanned teaming.

Jun 3, 2026 By Brandi Vincent

Marine Raiders with Fox Company, 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, Marine Forces Special Operations Command, provides perimeter security, at an undisclosed location Dec. 16, 2025. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Lance Cpl. Jared Saul)

‘Collaborative autonomy’ development not moving fast enough for SOCOM

“The ability to quickly integrate autonomous behaviors on multiple different platforms in multiple different domains, without it having to be specifically built for that platform, is something…

May 18, 2026 By Drew F. Lawrence

A map shows the Strait of Hormuz on a laptop computer screen in this photo illustration in Athens, Greece, on March 3, 2026. (Photo by Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Hormuz and the defense posture we don’t have

What is unfolding now is an inconvenient truth.

May 15, 2026 By Rear Adm. (Ret.) Milton "Jamie" Sands III

U.S. East coast-based Naval Special Warfare Operators (SEALs) conduct dive operations to increase maritime lethality during training off the coast of Key Largo, Florida, Feb. 18, 2025. Naval Special Warfare Group TWO produces, supports, and deploys the world’s most lethal maritime special operation forces to ensure the United States will deter and win wars. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Katie Cox)

SOCOM highlights 6 focus areas for naval capabilities modernization

Officials released a source-sought notice for the ANCHOR initiative.

Apr 27, 2026 By Jon Harper