Small Unmanned Surface Vehicles (sUSV) Family of Systems (FoS)

Last updated: 28 Aug 2025

Point of Contact
Naval Sea Systems Command
Executive Office Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC)

Commander Naval Sea Systems Command
1333 Isaac Hull Avenue, SE
Washington Navy Yard, DC 20376

202-781-0000

Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC)

Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft

The Navy is experimenting with the Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) which are small unmanned surface vehicles in support of naval operations. This craft provides additional warfighting capabilities to the Fleet, augmenting the traditional combatant force with autonomous systems. To provide this capability to the Fleet, the Navy leveraged rapid procurement avenues such as Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT), which provides funding to small, non-traditional businesses to support the warfighter with advanced technology. The Navy has accepted all GARCs that were awarded through APFIT. The APFIT GARCs have been used by multiple customers supporting experimentation with various payloads and concepts of employment.

In July 2024, the Navy awarded a production contract. The production baseline includes a variety of changes to include increased range and reliability improvements. The Navy has since designed and procured common modular enclosures containing communications and computing equipment and is expandable to support future capabilities. In March 2025, the Navy partnered with Fleet stakeholders to demonstrate underway launches of several GARCs from ships. In partnership with various agencies including the Navy’s Unmanned Maritime Systems Program Office, Project Overmatch, and Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the teams are developing and demonstrating both government and industry-based autonomy solutions to meet Fleet requirements.

Small Unmanned Surface Vessel (sUSV) Next

In addition to GARC, the U.S. Navy is exploring sUSV Next systems. Under Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Commercial Solution Offering (CSO) for the sUSV Next Prototype, a prototype vessel was selected for experimenting with complementary capabilities within the sUSV family of systems in July 2024. The sUSV Next prototyping strategy delivered capabilities which includes basic navigation autonomy; collaborative multi-agent autonomy to execute adaptive and cooperative behaviors; and integration of third-party software on the prototype sUSV using open architectures and standardized interfaces. The prototype successfully completed seakeeping and single-agent autonomy assessments, resulting in a DIU prototype completion success memorandum in November 2024 plus ASN (RD&A) approval for follow-on production in January 2025. DIU procured eight additional prototypes to support its Autonomous Collaborative Teaming (ACT) prototyping project for heterogenous, multi-domain unmanned vessels command and control (C2) capabilities. Low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the production baseline began in January 2025. sUSV Next will transition from DIU to the Navy’s Mission Modules program office (PMS 420) and USVRON-7 for further experimentation with training, tactics, and procedures. The program office and USVRON-7 are using the sUSV Next prototypes for the development of concept of operations (CONOP), manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), and multiple mission sets for maritime domain operations (MDO).

In May 2025, the Navy awarded a large Production Other Transaction (OT) contract to rapidly equip the Fleet with sUSV Next vessels. The Navy is accepting the sUSV units and is utilizing them to support experimentation.

Saildrone Voyager

230913-N-N3764-1002 NAVAL STATION KEY WEST, Fl. - (Sept. 13, 2023) -- Commercial operators deploy Saildrone Voyager Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) out to sea in the initial steps of U.S. 4th Fleet’s Operation Windward Stack during a launch from Naval Air Station Key West’s Mole Pier and Truman Harbor, Sept. 13, 2023. Operation Windward Stack is part of 4th Fleet’s unmanned integration campaign, which provides the Navy a region to experiment with and operate unmanned systems in a permissive environment, develop Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) against near-peer competitors, and refine manned and unmanned Command and Control (C2) infrastructure, all designed to move the Navy to the hybrid fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Danette Baso Silvers/Released)

The Saildrone Voyager addresses the need for a sUSV with extended dwell time capabilities for persistent maritime domain awareness. Saildrone Voyagers provide persistent maritime awareness for up to 100 days of continuous service. While wind is the primary source of propulsion it can also use a combination of diesel and electric power for sprints.

In January 2025, the Saildrone Voyager supported 4th Fleet in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean as part of Operation Southern Spear. These Saildrones provided intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance support to monitor and deter illegal drug operations.

Autonomous Low-Profile Vessel (ALPV)

An Autonomous Low-Profile Vessel operates in open water near Naha Military Port, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 17, 2025. U.S. Marines with 12th Littoral Logistics Battalion, 12th Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division executed the first ALPV rehearsals in Okinawa, increasing 12th LLB's operational readiness and amphibious capabilities. The ALPV is a semi-submersible autonomous logistics delivery system that has the ability to deliver multiple variations of supplies and equipment through contested maritime terrain. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Rodney Frye) (Details on the vessel have been blurred for security reasons)

Autonomous Low-Profile Vessel (ALPV) is a sUSV under development with the United States Marine Corps. This sUSV is a low cost, low observable vessel that provides tactical materiel distribution in contested environments from several domains including ship-to-shore, ship-to-ship, and shore-to-shore. ALPV prototype testing and planning is ongoing.

Point of Contact
Naval Sea Systems Command
Executive Office Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC)

Commander Naval Sea Systems Command
1333 Isaac Hull Avenue, SE
Washington Navy Yard, DC 20376

202-781-0000

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