An uncrewed surface vessel (USV) developed by Maritime Tactical Systems (MARTAC) completed a fully autonomous eight-day mission off the coast of California as part of an extended U.S. Navy test.
A company press statement revealed its T38 Devil Ray USV successfully completed its assigned continuous 192-hour mission in real-world conditions without intervention or escorts.
The test was carried out on Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division’s (NAWCWD) Point Mugu Sea Range via its Future Capabilities Office’s Blue Water Instrumentation (BWI) team.
As per the statement: “The demonstration highlighted the T38’s ability to operate autonomously for extended periods, maintain station in dynamic sea states, and support a range of mission profiles.”
Mission task elements, conducted around 400 nautical miles offshore, included 50-knot sprints; loitering under reduced propulsion; and station-holding and data collection.
During the eight-day exercise the 38ft USV coped with a range of conditions, including periods of Sea State 5, meaning wave heights of about 10 feet.
As per MARTAC: “During this period, the T38 autonomously maintained its designated station, continued data collection, and executed mission objectives without degradation, reinforcing the platform’s efficiency, control logic and mission flexibility.”
It added: “Critically, performance in these conditions underscored the inherent stability advantages of the T38’s catamaran hull design… This stability directly translates to improved mission effectiveness, whether collecting high-fidelity sensor data, maintaining precise station-keeping or supporting targeting and firing solutions where platform stability is essential.”
- You can read more details on the MARTAC website