Austal USA Delivers First ‘Autonomous Capable’ EPF Ship To US Navy

Published on February 17, 2023

United States-based shipbuilding company Austal USA delivers to the US Navy its first ‘autonomous capable’ Expeditionary Fast Transport ship. The ship, EPF 13, is now the largest surface ship in the US Navy with autonomous capability.

Before delivery to the Navy, EPF 13 underwent testing by Austal USA and its industry partners L3Harris and General Dynamics Mission Systems five times over several months. It is viewed as an ‘ideal prototype’ for autonomous operations ‘including logistics, tendering and adjunct magazine mission profiles.’ One of the ship’s distinctive features is its centralization and automation of machinery operations on the bridge, allowing it to be minimally crewed.

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