Posted on 07/16/2026 7:47:12 AM PDT by ransomnote
John Ʌ Konrad VBREAKING: The era of the autonomous dinghy fleet is over. Until now, most autonomous naval drones have been tiny with minuscule payload, limited range, limited impact. The Marauder changes that. It has the size to carry meaningful cargo, weapons, and fuel. This is a major step toward building true ship-sized USVs the US Navy needs.
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You’d think a ship that size would need people on board for equipment maintenance and breakdowns. Color me skeptical.
Our biggest problem is no tech, it’s the lack of functioning shipyards and men to build ships. Our ship production is abysmal.
“Mischief managed.”
That's true, but on the flip-side, think how much space can be saved by not having to support humans. No bridge, no mess hall, no bunks, no toilets, no laundry, no fresh water. It will probably carry more weapons and cargo than another vessel twice its size
The only problem - take out the satellites controlling it, and it becomes a piece of junk floating in the sea.
If it is a drone boat, why does it have a pilot house. I think the report is a bit bogus.
Also, although not American, the problem with the US is that they take concept and supersize them, driving up costs and making them not necessarily ideal for the mission. The Ukraine has been successful as it has concentrated on the samll stuff. They are building some larger drones with longer ranges, but they also have been putting out minni drones by the 1,000s.
For the Kamikazee piloting it.
“they also have been putting out minni drones by the 1,000s”
I understand that production was running at 4 million a year with a goal of 7 million in a year.
Conversion to pleasure craft when unneeded.
It’s much bigger than an Iranian speedboat, and more expensive.
“The MUSV can travel at a speed of 12 knots while cruising or 18 knots in burst mode.”
https://interestingengineering.com/military/150-foot-monster-drone-ship
Maybe just 1 or 2 people as backup. Sort of like automated subways that still have a person in the driver seat.
Looks like a souped up offshore supply boat with jet drive.
We always go far too far. Fit for purpose is not in our wheelhouse.
There may be times, coming into harbor, for instance, when they want a pilot on board.
The US is also building autonomous, unmanned submarines which could loiter on the seafloor, outside of an enemy harbor
That’s a long ass headline. It not only gets you interested, it makes it so you don’t need to read the article.
I understand that production was running at 4 million a year with a goal of 7 million in a year.
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Your numbers are for flying drones [ FPV ], not naval ones.
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Put some Harpoon ASMs and Mk-48 torpedoes on that thing, and build them by the hundreds. Maybe a couple of AI-controlled CROWS to deal with approaching small vessels. Incorporate a self-destruction charge in the event that an enemy tries to board and capture it.
Game changing and useful technology.
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