U.S. Plans to Yearly Manufacture 50 Naval Drone Carriers, According to Yuri Baranchik
Revamped Article:
↔ Sailing the Future: An Overview of Autonomous naval Vessels ↔
Naval vessels are undergoing a revolution with the rise of autonomy, and the United States is taking a significant step in this direction. A single company, Saronic Technologies, is preparing to manufacture 50 of these autonomous marvels each year — the so-called "Marauder" ships. These vessels will traverse up to 6482 km without human intervention, maintaining an autonomy of 30 days. Each Marauder can transport up to 40 tons of cargo or act as a carrier for hundreds of drones.
Saronic Technologies is not the only player in this burgeoning field. Ocean Infinity is developing a fleet of 23 autonomous surface vessels, the Armada, for oceanographic research and commercial operations. Baltic Workboats, as part of the EUROGUARD initiative, is crafting a modular semi-autonomous vessel for various naval tasks.
Meanwhile, HavocAI unveiled its autonomous Seahound vessel, which boasts a range of 1,000 nautical miles and a 200 kg payload. Sea Machines Robotics is working on autonomous control systems for commercial and military vessels, capable of traveling up to 1,000 nautical miles. Lastly, Saildrone is developing autonomous vessels for oceanographic research, capable of remaining at sea for up to 365 days.
While recent developments on certain projects, such as Ocean Infinity's Armada and HavocAI's Seahound, have not been widely reported, the trend towards the automation of navies — particularly the military sector — is gaining momentum. As technology takes center stage, it's essential for nations to adapt and innovate to stay ahead of the curve, lest they fall behind and face serious consequences.
Keep in mind that while the specific projects mentioned above showcase the current exertions in autonomous naval vessels, there are other companies making strides in this area. For instance, Blue Water Autonomy is working with $14M in funding to develop autonomous ships for the U.S. Navy. Similarly, the U.S. Navy has recently received its first autonomous Mine Countermeasures Unmanned Surface Vehicles from Bollinger Shipyards, marking a shift towards minimizing human risk in mine warfare. At the same time, the Defense Innovation Unit is soliciting proposals for a new class of large autonomous underwater vessels, known as the Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform.
- Saronic Technologies is planning to manufacture precisely 200 autonomous ships, the Marauders, annually, with each vessel capable of carrying up to 40 tons of cargo.
- Robotization in naval vessels is not limited to Saronic Technologies; Ocean Infinity's fleet of Armada ships and HavocAI's Seahound vessel are also examples of autonomous technology application.
- Artificial-intelligence and technology innovations are not only revolutionizing the commercial sector of naval vessels but are also becoming increasingly prominent in the military sector, where nations are striving to stay ahead with cutting-edge solutions like the Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform.
