U.S. Navy Tests Smart Drone Boat Swarm

The U.S. Navy has reached a major milestone in its journey toward autonomous warfare at sea. In a recent test, eight small Unmanned Surface Vehicles (sUSVs) operated together like a swarm, requiring very little human input. This test was led by the Navy’s Program Executive Office for Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC) and showcased the growing potential of drone boat fleets in future naval missions.

At the heart of this successful demonstration is the Leviathan Software Package, a powerful system that controls multiple drone vessels under one advanced framework. Developed by the Navy’s Unmanned Maritime Systems (PMS 406) and Littoral Combat Ship Mission Modules (PMS 420), Leviathan allows these unmanned boats to work together intelligently, identify threats, and navigate the seas—all with minimal human oversight.

What Makes Leviathan So Powerful?

The Leviathan system includes:

• Autonomy Baseline Library (ABL): This is the Navy’s first fully open-architecture software for autonomous maritime operations. It means the software is flexible, can be used by different platforms, and is future-ready. ABL also meets the Navy’s latest autonomy standards, known as UMAA 6.0.

• Common Control System (CCS): A unified control hub that allows one operator to command several unmanned boats from shore or a ship.

• Automatic Target Recognition (ATR): Advanced image-processing tools that help drone boats detect and recognize targets in real time.

• Perception Tools: These tools help the vessels "see" and understand their surroundings, enabling them to navigate complex environments without crashing or getting lost.

Together, these technologies create a highly autonomous and responsive swarm of drone boats—capable of carrying out missions such as surveillance, patrolling, and even combat support, all without needing a large human crew.

Why This Matters

According to Navy officials, deploying Leviathan through the Rapid Autonomy Integration Lab (RAIL) has several key advantages:

• One operator can control multiple boats, which saves manpower.

• The open architecture allows faster updates, avoiding reliance on a single vendor.

• It lowers long-term maintenance costs.

• It supports both land-based and ship-based operations, making the system versatile for different missions.

Future of Naval Warfare

The Navy’s success in this test is a strong sign that unmanned surface vessels will play a major role in future sea battles, especially in areas like the Indo-Pacific, where fast, flexible, and stealthy platforms are needed.

Using a drone boat swarm provides many strategic advantages: distributed control, increased survivability, and the ability to overwhelm enemy defenses with speed and coordination. These unmanned vessels are expected to support larger fleets, conduct reconnaissance, and even perform electronic warfare tasks without risking sailors' lives.

Specifications Snapshot of sUSVs Used

While the exact model of the small Unmanned Surface Vehicles was not disclosed, these drone boats typically have the following specifications:

• Length: 3 to 12 meters

• Speed: Up to 35 knots

• Range: Hundreds of nautical miles depending on size and fuel type

• Sensors: Cameras, radar, sonar, and electronic warfare payloads

• Control: Autonomous via Leviathan or remotely by an operator

• Roles: Surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, anti-submarine patrols, and mine detection

With this breakthrough, the U.S. Navy moves closer to a future where human-machine teaming becomes the norm, and unmanned vessels play a central role in defending the seas.