U.S Navy Hastens To Deploy Unmanned Surface Vessels, 3 USV Divisions To Be Created Next Week

The U.S Navy plans to deploy unmanned surface vessels as soon as possible.

Three USV divisions are likely to be formed in the coming week, and two medium USVs will enter service this year.

Capt. Garrett Miller, the commodore of Surface Development Group One, made the announcements at the Surface Navy Association’s 38th National Symposium.

“My command is really focused on operationalising USVs for the fleet. We’re driving that really hard,” Miller said.

He also stated that specialised training and a distinct mindset are required to operate fully autonomous ships.

Miller added that the three early command USV divisions will be created, with the assumption of command to take place next week in San Diego.

The U.S Navy’s much-awaited Seahawk and Sea Hunter medium USVs will also be deployed in 2026, with Seahawk becoming a part of the carrier strike group.

The deployments are scheduled to occur at the beginning of February, according to reports.

The 135 m long Sea Hunter and Sea Hawks are the US Navy’s first medium autonomous USVs.

Both were designed for excellent surveillance, to send data to manned vessels to help in anti-submarine warfare and increase reconnaissance capabilities. They were used in fleet exercises in 2022 and 2023.

Miller stated that the U.S Navy increased the number of USVs in the fleet from just 4 to hundreds in just one year (2025).

He also said that the service will get more USVs with containerised payloads, which could provide a variety of kinetic effects.

Source: Maritime Shipping News