The Spanish Navy has officially entered the unmanned maritime domain with the delivery of its first unmanned surface vessel, introducing manned–unmanned teaming into naval operations. The new capability strengthens Spain’s focus on autonomous technologies for future naval warfare and maritime security missions.
Designated Sead 23, the USV has been allocated to the Navy’s CEVENTA unit at Rota Naval Base, where it will support experimentation, testing, and operational development. Designed from inception as an unmanned platform, the vessel is optimized for maritime surveillance, patrol missions, escort operations, coastal reconnaissance, target tracking, and seabed inspection.
The Sead 23 was supplied by Seadrone, part of Spain’s Zelenza Group, under a €1.1 million contract signed in late 2024. The 7-meter-long vessel features a compact hull with a shallow draft, allowing operations in littoral and near-shore environments, while supporting a payload capacity of 600 kilograms for sensors, fuel, and mission equipment.
Thanks to its open and modular design, the USV can accommodate satcom links, electro-optical sensors, sonar systems, and additional payloads, including weaponized modules and loitering munitions. Constructed from fiberglass, it is powered by a 320-hp diesel engine driving a waterjet, achieving speeds of up to 36 knots.
The platform offers extended endurance, remaining operational for up to seven days at economical speeds, and is intended to conduct high-risk and repetitive missions that limit human exposure. The Sead 23 also supports amphibious landings and mine countermeasure operations, building on demonstrations conducted during exercises such as OCEAN 2020, DÉDALO 23, and BALTOPS 24, with operator training underway ahead of a 2026 testing campaign.
