ZeroUSV’s 12-metre uncrewed surface vessel (USV) Oceanus12 autonomously deployed smaller attritable Oshen C-Star drone boats in a U.K. defence technology trial.
The U.K.-based maritime technology startup hailed the demonstration as “a world-first milestone for maritime autonomy” and said a follow-up would see its Oceanus12 launch four C-Star vehicles simultaneously.
The firm said the experiments were conducted alongside partners Oshen and Marine AI, whose GuardianAI autonomy stack controls Oceanus12. The trials are backed by UK Defence Innovation, part of the U.K. Ministry of Defence’s National Armaments Director Group.
A ZeroUSV statement noted: “For defence and security customers, this points to a future where distributed autonomous systems can be deployed rapidly, at scale, and with reduced risk to personnel.”
ZeroUSV is a subsidiary of autonomous maritime systems specialists MSubs, which makes and operates the Royal Navy’s XLUUV test platform XV Excalibur. It was established in 2024, is based in Plymouth and designs, manufactures, and operates autonomous USVs.
Oceanus12 is an aluminium monohull high-endurance autonomous USV available in two configurations: Core and Extra-Long-Range (XLR).
The XLR version is a metre longer than the original, displaces 8 tonnes, and has an endurance of about 60 days.
The C-Star is a 1,2-metre micro-USV designed for long-endurance ocean sensing. It is built to operate in low-cost, mass-deployable “constellations” that function as a wide-area sensor network.
Primarily wind-powered, it has integrated solar panels charging internal batteries and can alter position via electric thrusters if needed.
In March it was announced ZeroUSV’s Oceanus12 drone had deployed a Teledyne Slocum UUV glider to demonstrate another autonomous surveillance solution to the Royal Navy as part of the force’s Atlantic Bastion technology trials.
- You can read more details on ZeroUSV’s social media feed
