In-depth explainer
Compare USVs, AUVs and ROVs, their supervision and data flows, and the launch, recovery and support that make maritime autonomy practical.
Sea surface · Uncrewed surface vesselUnited States
The US Navy's modular mine-countermeasure surface craft, with a distinct configuration from the newer MMUSV.
In service / use documentedRead Sea surface · Uncrewed surface vesselUnited States
The fifth-generation CUSV derivative introduced in January 2026 under a development, testing and delivery award.
Order / production commitmentRead Sea surface · Uncrewed surface vesselUnited States
A commercially based USV family combining Brunswick hulls with Textron autonomy, with US Navy sales and a 2026 DIU award.
Order / production commitmentRead Sea surface · Uncrewed surface vesselUnited States
A small electric catamaran USV offered for sensing, survey and communications roles.
Supplier-reported statusRead Sea surface · Uncrewed surface vesselUnited States
Two smaller Devil Ray catamaran configurations, recorded separately from the existing T38 profile.
Supplier-reported statusRead Sea surface · Uncrewed surface vesselUnited States
Large fast-supply-vessel-based USV demonstrators with documented US Navy deployment, distinct from Sea Hunter and Seahawk.
In service / use documentedRead Sea surface · Uncrewed surface vesselFrance
A nine-metre-class surface drone carrier for survey, surveillance and mine-countermeasure payloads.
Supplier-reported statusRead Sea surface · Uncrewed surface vesselFrance / Belgium
A larger mine-countermeasure drone carrier with confirmed first Belgian–Dutch toolbox delivery in 2026.
In service / use documentedRead Sea surface · Uncrewed surface vesselSingapore
A purpose-built mine-countermeasure surface-vessel programme whose hull construction began in 2025.
Order / production commitmentRead Sea surface · Uncrewed surface vesselFrance
A compact French surface vessel for maritime observation, protection and modular mission demonstrations.
Sea surface · Uncrewed surface vesselIsrael
A remotely supervised surface-vessel family with documented Singapore Navy maritime-security use.
In service / use documentedRead Sea surface · Uncrewed surface vesselUnited Kingdom / France
The surface component of the Anglo-French mine-countermeasure programme, separating production vessels from the Apollo prototype.
In service / use documentedRead Sea surface · Uncrewed surface vesselTürkiye
Concept / announced
STM's announced compact one-way surface-vehicle programme, first presented in May 2026.
Sea surface · Uncrewed surface vesselChina
The smaller JARI surface-vessel development, launched in 2019 and distinct from the later large Orca.
Supplier-reported statusRead Sea surface · Uncrewed surface vesselChina
A large Chinese uncrewed surface-vessel programme publicly displayed in November 2024.
Supplier-reported statusRead Sea surface · Uncrewed surface vesselIndia
An Indian surface demonstrator with a manufacturer-reported autonomous Mumbai–Thoothukudi transit.
Sea surface · Uncrewed surface vesselSouth Korea
A South Korean experimental USV family supporting surveillance and subsequent naval development programmes.
Sea surface · Uncrewed surface vesselSouth Korea
Concept / announced
A modular surface-vessel concept unveiled in 2025 and associated with South Korea's future uncrewed naval work.
Sea surface · Uncrewed surface vesselRussia
A separately described KMZ survey boat displayed in 2024, based on the RK-700M rather than an assumed common Vizir specification.
Supplier-reported statusRead Sea surface · Uncrewed surface vesselPoland
A Polish modular surface-vessel family, with the smaller 550 unveiled in September 2026.
Sea surface · Uncrewed surface vesselUnited States
A purpose-built US Navy autonomy demonstrator in the Overlord programme.
Sea surface · Uncrewed surface vesselUnited States
An experimental ship designed without onboard accommodation, undergoing autonomous reliability and endurance demonstrations.
Sea surface · Sea surface systemsUnited States
US Navy autonomous trimarans that progressed from research prototypes to documented fleet activity, including Seahawk's 2026 carrier-group deployment.
In service / use documentedRead Sea surface · Sea surface systemsUnited States
A 10-metre autonomous vessel for persistent coastal surveillance and seabed mapping, used in US and NATO maritime programmes.
In service / use documentedRead Sea surface · Sea surface systemsUnited States
A 20-metre ocean-going autonomous platform for deep-water mapping, maritime sensing and trials of additional naval payloads.
In service / use documentedRead Sea surface · Sea surface systemsUnited States
Concept / announced
A 52-metre uncrewed naval design announced in April 2026, with first sea trials planned for early 2027.
Sea surface · Sea surface systemsUnited States
A modular autonomous catamaran used for naval experimentation and range support, with an eight-day mission reported in 2026.
In service / use documentedRead Sea surface · Sea surface systemsIsrael
An optionally crewed 12-metre vessel able to operate without an onboard crew, with modular naval sensing and mine-countermeasure payloads.
In service / use documentedRead Sea surface · Sea surface systemsAustralia
An Australian long-endurance surveillance USV using renewable energy, with a hybrid variant and a 40-vessel Navy order announced in 2026.
In service / use documentedRead Sea surface · Sea surface systemsUnited Kingdom
A modular naval USV supporting mine countermeasures and survey missions, with remote, autonomous and onboard operating modes.
In service / use documentedRead Sea surface · Sea surface systemsFrance
A slender autonomous survey vessel used for civil and military ocean data collection, including a documented French Shom delivery.
In service / use documentedRead Sea surface · Sea surface systemsPortugal
Concept / announced
A larger MAGURA-family carrier USV unveiled in August 2026, with advertised capacity for other unmanned systems and mission equipment.
Sea surface · Sea surface systemsUkraine
Ukraine's SBU surface-drone family, with a substantially enlarged 2025 configuration documented by its operator.
In service / use documentedRead Sea surface · Sea surface systemsTürkiye
A Turkish modular naval USV with documented entry into the Navy inventory and several separately advertised mission variants.
In service / use documentedRead Sea surface · Sea surface systemsSingapore
Singapore's autonomous maritime-security vessel began operational patrols in January 2025, according to the defence ministry.
In service / use documentedRead Field guideGlobal
A guide to UAVs, UGVs, USVs and underwater vehicles—and how to compare their evidence without confusing operating domains with autonomy.
Sea surface · Sea surface systemsUkraine / United Kingdom / Portugal
A Ukrainian-origin surface-drone family with documented wartime use, followed by internationally developed MV7 configurations.
In service / use documentedRead Sea surface · Sea surface systemsRussia
A Russian uncrewed-boat development line publicly demonstrated for hydrography and modular maritime sensing; military fleet status remains unclear.
Sea surface · Sea surface systemsTürkiye
A Turkish family of autonomous naval and port-security vessels, including the export ULAQ-11 and larger ULAQ-12 designs.
Order / production commitmentRead