The US Navy wants unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) that are capable of carrying large payloads, including missiles, thousands of miles at sea.
According to a solicitation by the Navy, the Modular Attack Surface Craft (MASC) program will see a high-endurance USV for the Navy’s need for a fast, high-capacity, embarked payload platform. Signaling a bold leap forward in USV development, the program seeks to rapidly expand the fleet’s capabilities.
Published on July 28, 2025, by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the Navy wants responses to the solicitation by August 11th and wants the prototype to be ready within 18 months of the contract award.
“MASC seeks to leverage cutting-edge technologies and modular design principles to create adaptable and resilient solutions that can effectively counter evolving threats,” read the solicitation.
According to the Naval Institute website, three vessel concepts varying in capabilities have already been identified, including a USV “that can support a payload of two 40-foot ISO containers and cruise at a sailing speed of 25 knots for up to 2,500 nautical miles in sea state four. The other two concepts examine different payloads, from one to four ISO containers without specifying range or speed.”
MASC is also looking for platforms that can operate at high speeds in rough sea conditions, are interoperable with existing US Navy systems, and are capable of autonomous maneuvering with and without Radio Frequency (RF) emissions, open architecture software, as well as software that allows for multiple USVs to be controlled simultaneously.
The solicitation comes as shipbuilding and modernization issues have plagued navies around the world, despite the essential need of the navy to protect freedom of navigation and power projection.
In today's modern maritime environment, navies not only have to contend with credible and complicated A2/AD threats, but must also defend against land-based munitions, missiles, torpedoes, anti-surface warfare, coastal mines, drones, and autonomous maritime systems.
Effectivness of sea drones demonstrated by Ukraine in the Black Sea
The lethal effectiveness of sea drones has been demonstrated in the Black Sea, where Ukraine has deployed remote-controlled speed boats packed with explosives to sink Russian frigates and minesweepers since late 2022. The Houthi rebels in Yemen have employed similar vessels against commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
These tactics have caught the attention of the Pentagon, which is incorporating lessons from Ukraine and the Red Sea into its plans to counter China's rising naval power in the Pacific.
In a signal of the Pentagon's intent, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks announced an initiative, named Replicator, to deploy hundreds of small, relatively cheap air and sea drones to match China's growing military threat.
The US Navy Overlord program, also known as Ghost Fleet Overlord, has three ships- Ranger, Nomad, Mariner, and Vanguard- that have been retrofitted to sail with near full autonomy and are also designed to carry weapons systems like the Aegis Combat System.
Israel has been developing and manufacturing USVs for close to two decades, with Israel Aerospace Industries having the Katana USV and Blue Whale unmanned submarine, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems having the Protector, and Elbit Systems having the Seagull USV that has been sold to customers in Asia and has even taken part in exercises held by the US Navy 5th fleet.
The IDF also recently announced that it has deployed USVs to protect the country’s gas rigs as well as to patrol off the southern and northern coasts. While the Israeli USVs can be armed, none can carry the long-range payload that the US Navy solicitation has called for.
Reuters contributed to the report