Sonar specialist FarSounder has revealed its Argos 3D Forward-Looking Sonar (FLS) has been installed on USX-1 Defiant, the 180-foot uncrewed surface vessel (USV) developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
Construction of the 240-tonne “medium-sized” autonomous USV, which has no combat or mission systems installed, was completed earlier this year under DARPA’s NOMARS (No Manning Required Ship) programme; she is currently undergoing sea tests.
The DARPA vessel was designed to be completely uncrewed from first principles, in bid to benefit from the advantages of not having to factor in human comfort and survivability with regard to considerations such as size, damage control, attritability, sea-state, and hydrodynamic efficiency.
In December 2024, the NOMARS programme also reported it had successfully completed an at-sea refueling trial of an uncrewed system designed to work in tandem with USX-1 Defiant.
According to a recent FarSounder press statement, shipbuilder Serco selected the firm to install its Argos 3D sonar system on USX-1 Defiant.
It stated: “FarSounder’s Argos FLS was integrated into the vessel’s navigation suite to enhance situational awareness and support the ship’s real-time obstacle avoidance capabilities.
“This integration reflects FarSounder’s increasing presence within the autonomous and unmanned sector, providing enhanced navigation for vessels conducting complex missions in challenging marine environments.”
CEO and co-founder Matthew Zimmerman commented: “This programme represents a major step forward in the evolution of unmanned maritime systems.”
The Farsounder boss went on: “We’re honoured to contribute our technology to an effort that pushes the boundaries of ship design and operational autonomy.”
- You can read more details on the FarSounder website and the DARPA website