USV Start-Up Nets $14m Funding Boost

Defence firm start-up Blue Water Autonomy has announced $14 million in new funding as it seeks to develop an uncrewed military vessel for the U.S. Navy.

The firm was founded in 2024 by a team with backgrounds in Amazon Robotics, iRobot, and the U.S. Navy. So far it has developed an autonomy suite, started a sea testing programme, and developed concept ship designs.

Blue Water Autonomy’s design concept envisions a completely uncrewed vessel which can operate on the open ocean for months at a time.

“Sea power has been the bedrock of America's security and prosperity for centuries,” said Rylan Hamilton, co-founder and CEO of Blue Water Autonomy.

“We believe the entire maritime economy is in need of transformation — it starts with supporting the U.S. Navy which needs dynamic industrial partners to bring top technology to its sailors, including ocean-going, fully autonomous ships.”

The new funding comes from U.S. venture capital firms Eclipse and Riot Ventures.

• You can read more details on the Blue Water Autonomy website