The US Navy is moving closer to routine operational use of medium unmanned surface vessels, with the Sea Hunter and Seahawk set to enter fleet service and new organizational units created to manage autonomous platforms. The initiative reflects a broader naval strategy to integrate unmanned and manned vessels into a unified operational framework.
Announcing the development at the Surface Navy Association’s annual symposium, Surface Development Group One commander Garrett Miller emphasized that autonomous ships are no longer limited to testing environments. The 135-foot-long USVs will initially perform persistent surveillance and reconnaissance missions, feeding sensor data to crewed warships and enhancing anti-submarine warfare capabilities across distributed maritime operations.
After taking part in major exercises in 2022 and 2023, the vessels are now transitioning into active operational roles, with at least one assigned to support a carrier strike group. Meanwhile, the navy continues to rapidly scale its unmanned fleet, particularly among small USVs, and has established a formal career pipeline for officers specializing in unmanned warfare.
The expansion is backed by sustained investment from industry. Leidos previously delivered the $35 million Seahawk USV and continues work under Naval Sea Systems Command contracts, while Textron Systems has strengthened the navy’s autonomous capabilities through mine countermeasures platforms and, in early 2026, unveiled a fifth-generation multi-mission USV designed for greater payload capacity, extended range, and flexible mission execution.
