WASHINGTON — May 31, 2026 : The U.S. Navy has selected seven industry-developed designs to advance into the at-sea testing phase of its Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) program, marking a major step in efforts to expand autonomous maritime capabilities and increase fleet capacity through unmanned systems.
The move is part of a broader modernization effort aimed at integrating autonomous platforms into future naval operations. The MUSV initiative, supported by multi-billion-dollar funding, is expected to play a central role in the Navy’s future force structure planning.
The seven selected companies are Sea Machines, Leidos, Saronic Technologies, Galliano Marine Services, PacMar Technologies, Birdon, and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII). Each company will receive an additional $15 million to support prototype development and at-sea testing activities.
Testing is scheduled to begin in June 2026 and continue through October 2026. During the roughly four-month assessment period, the Navy will evaluate operational readiness, endurance, autonomy, mission flexibility, and technical performance of each proposed vessel design. Designs that meet requirements and successfully complete testing will become eligible for follow-on production.
Marketplace Procurement Model
The MUSV initiative is being developed under a marketplace procurement strategy that transfers a significant share of research, development, and initial production risks to private industry. Rather than relying on government-led development of limited prototypes, the Navy requires participating companies to deliver mature, operationally relevant designs capable of meeting standardized performance requirements.
This model is intended to accelerate acquisition timelines, encourage industrial competition, and broaden participation among established defense contractors and emerging technology firms. Program officials stated that the seven finalists were selected from more than two dozen submissions.
The current MUSV program evolved from the earlier Modular Surface Attack Craft (MASC) effort introduced in 2025, reflecting a restructuring of Navy priorities toward scalable autonomous vessels capable of supporting distributed maritime operations.
Standardized Operational Requirements
To ensure interoperability and mission effectiveness, the Navy established common performance standards for all MUSV designs.
Selected vessels are required to achieve a range of 2,500 nautical miles, carry a 25 metric ton payload, sustain operations in Sea State 4 conditions, and maintain speeds of up to 25 knots. Each design must also include autonomous operational capability, enabling missions with minimal direct human involvement.
A key feature of the program is the requirement for modular, containerized payload systems, allowing rapid mission adaptation without extensive redesign.
Under current planning, MUSVs are expected to support missions including strike operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), logistics support, and transport functions. By using interchangeable payload systems, the Navy aims to improve flexibility while reducing integration complexity.
Industry Development and Prototype Progress
Several participating firms have already demonstrated progress ahead of the formal testing period.
Saronic Technologies recently launched its first Marauder MUSV and transitioned the vessel to on-water trials less than one year after beginning development. The approximately 150-foot platform incorporates a large flatbed mission area designed to support modular payload arrangements and multiple operational profiles.
According to available program information, the Marauder significantly exceeds baseline Navy payload requirements, supporting up to 150 metric tons and accommodating as many as four 40-foot or eight 20-foot ISO containers, depending on mission configuration.
Other participants have also introduced vessel concepts aligned with MUSV requirements. Huntington Ingalls Industries has proposed its Romulus design, while Sea Machines has advanced the STEAM RACER concept. Although detailed specifications for all seven submissions have not been publicly disclosed, Navy officials confirmed that each selected design includes autonomous capabilities and modular payload architecture.
Budget Commitments and Procurement Timeline
The Navy has committed substantial resources to establish unmanned maritime systems as a core component of future fleet operations.
In the Fiscal Year 2026 budget cycle, approximately $1.95 billion has been allocated to the MUSV program. A further $3 billion is planned over the next five years to sustain testing, procurement, and production activities.
Current procurement plans call for the acquisition of 81 MUSVs by Fiscal Year 2031. According to the projected schedule, the Navy intends to acquire 36 vessels in FY2026, 3 in FY2027, 10 in FY2028, 10 in FY2029, 12 in FY2030, and 12 in FY2031.
Strategic Role in Future Naval Operations
Senior military leadership has emphasized the growing importance of robotic and autonomous systems in military operations.
Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), said robotic autonomous systems provide commanders with flexible operational tools adaptable to varying mission requirements.
“I’ve observed firsthand how Robotic Autonomous Systems deliver a wide array of capabilities that swing the advantage in conflict,” Cooper stated. “The Commander’s ability to tailor these forces to meet unique security demands is essential.”
Looking ahead, the Navy projects a total of 83 unmanned vessels—including MUSVs, smaller unmanned surface vessels (USVs), and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs)—to be in service by FY2031. Navy planning documents indicate that by FY2030, the number of unmanned vessels will exceed traditional auxiliary ships in service.
The MUSV effort also aligns with the Navy’s broader “Golden Fleet” initiative, which seeks to increase fleet mass through a combination of crewed and autonomous systems while controlling procurement and sustainment costs.
Following completion of at-sea evaluations in October 2026, the Navy is expected to review testing data and determine which designs will advance toward production, shaping the future composition of its expanding unmanned fleet.
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