Pentagon launches campaign for unmanned boats able to launch drones at sea

The Department of Defense is embarking on a year-long competition to develop autonomous vessels capable of launching small attack drones at sea. Focused under the project title Suitable Warfighting Adaptive Payloads (SWAP-USV), the initiative seeks to bolster the United States' ability to combat low-cost maritime threats operating in contested waters. Backed by a total of $100 million in prize funding, the competition will unfold in three distinct testing phases, each with its own set of technical requirements and rewards.

Participating companies will be eligible for $200 million in potential procurement contracts if they successfully navigate through all three sprints. Sprint 1, slated for fall 2026, will focus on in-water testing with the goal of achieving full deployment within 120 days. Subsequent Sprint 2, beginning early 2027, will emphasize increased payload capacity for qualifying entrants.

Sprint 3, scheduled for summer 2027, will serve as the program's final evaluation phase, determining the vessel's suitability for eventual procurement.

The Pentagon is actively seeking participation from maritime manufacturers, developers of autonomous systems, sensor specialists, and established drone companies within the defense sector. Entrants may choose to enter the competition at any stage based on their current technical capabilities and development timelines. Key technical specifications for the winning vessel include the ability to operate reliably in various maritime environments without constant human oversight, onboard sensors for detecting and tracking surface targets, and autonomous navigation towards designated waypoints.

The vessel must have a minimum operational range of 200 nautical miles, maintain speeds of up to 10 knots, and be capable of launching drones directly from onboard launch systems. These aerial systems would further support secondary missions such as electronic warfare and communications relay in challenging environments. The solicitation emphasizes the vessel's readiness for market deployment rather than experimental status, suggesting a swift adaptation of existing commercial maritime technology rather than funding the development of entirely new engineering efforts.

The urgency for the U.S. to invest in drone boat technology is underscored by recent instances where such vessels have proven invaluable, including the rescue of crew members from a downed US Army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, as well as ongoing developments by the UK and Ukraine in this field.