US Navy’s new Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) prototype, USX-1 Defiant, was launched within the scope of the No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) programme.
The new prototype measures 180 ft in length and weighs 240 metric tonnes, comparable to previously tested MUSVs Sea Hunter and Ranger. DARPA has not yet provided any details about the sensors and armament.
The U.S. Navy is working on a scaled fleet of USVs within the scope of the Ghost Fleet programme, from USVs for mine countermeasures comparable to RHIB boats in size to LUSVs that can carry capable sensors and significant firepower.
MUSVs measuring 40-60 meters in length are envisioned as supporting platforms. This support can be either off-board sensing or a spare magazine for warships, as demonstrated by the Ranger USV, which fired an SM-6 long-range air defence missile using the Mk70 containerised VLS.
