Saildrone Launches First Next-gen Surveyor USV

Published on March 23, 2024

IET EngX

The first of Saildrone's new generation of Surveyor-class unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) has been launched by builder Austal USA in Mobile, Ala.

Purpose-built for autonomous deep-water ocean mapping missions and maritime defense and security missions, the new USVs are being tested under contract to the U.S. Navy.

At 20 meters long (65 feet) and 15 tons, the Surveyor is the world’s largest unmanned, autonomous vehicle class in operation. Built to the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Light Warship code, the Surveyor will provide the Navy and other government customers with a cutting-edge solution for open-ocean hydrographic surveys and maritime domain awareness (MDA) missions that require persistent wide area coverage.

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