Floating Drones

Guess it is not a surprise that in addition to all the Air Force drones we hear about (think Predator and Reaper…the ones with cool names) that the Navy is quickly developing new ones as well. Given that we’ve known how to make stuff float for many centuries, and fly for less than two, you would think the Navy would have an advantage.

Meet the Lightfish – okay, maybe the Air Force has the better names – but this seems to be a pretty impressive bit of surveillance kit.

Commander Task Force 66 launched the Lightfish unmanned surface vessel (USV) from a Seychelles Coast Guard ship as part of Cutlass Express 2026, an exercise with the Seychelles Navy designed to test the drones abilities in open ocean with limited connection.

The Lightfish is a 12-foot-long, solar-powered USV with a modular payload designed for long-endurance missions built by Seasats, a San Diego-based company. During a Lightfish trial last summer, the USV encountered People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) destroyer CNS Nanchang (101) while operating near Guam.USNI News

While operating approximately 330 miles northwest of Guam in June, the USV came within meters of the Chinese destroyer Nanchang, according to CEO Mike Flanigan as well as imagery taken by the USV and provided to Breaking Defense.  Breaking Defense

Any bets on a Chinese clone drone?

The Lightfish is only 12 feet long and 305 pounds, and cruises on solar power. Literally someone with a pickup could take one almost anywhere and launch it. It’s payload is 66 pounds. Here is the impressive bit – one can last 6 MONTHS without human intervention.  One almost made a 6 month journey from the US to Japan (had a leaky vent which caused problems.)

With the U.S. Navy, it will be used in missions to constantly gather intelligence through surveillance and reconnaissance along shorelines, in harbors, and even in the open ocean. With a top speed of 5 knots (5.75 mph), it can conduct a wide range of maritime domain awareness missions, including port and coastal security, drug trafficking, illegal fishing, and other threats.  SlashGear

And some may want to comment on another stat – the Lightfish can self-right itself in up to Sea State 6, which I read is 20 foot waves. Sounds impressive to me.

Next we get to a company called Blue Water, making autonomous freighters. I’m guessing with this crowd there’s no need to explain the class name “Liberty”?

Blue Water, a defense contractor, developed the Liberty class of medium-sized uncrewed surface vessels that can operate for up to three months and cross the Pacific Ocean completely independently. This is an amazing achievement in naval automation, and it could be used to deliver much-needed medical, food, or other supplies, including weapons and ammunition, anywhere in the world.

Blue Water developed the Liberty Class using the Damen Stan Patrol 6009 hull as its template, featuring an axe bow design. This improves stability in rough seas, which is vital for autonomous operation. Each vessel measures 190 feet in length with a beam of 30 feet, displacing around 850 tons. They have a maximum speed of 29 mph and can sail for 11,500 miles while carrying four standard 40-foot cargo containers. These allow a Liberty Class ship to carry up to 165 tons. SlashGear II

To save you having to check, the WWII Liberty ships were 441 feet in length, did about 11 knots, and were designed to carry 10,000 tons of cargo. Note that the new ships’ cargo capacity is far inferior to the old Liberty ships – but they can go almost 3 times as fast AND the old Liberty ships carried a crew of 38-62 Merchant Marines compared to 0 on the new ships.

Some interesting stuff out there…

Category: Navy, None, Science and Technology