Pentagon Initiates 120-Day Sprint to Field Counter-UAS Armed Unmanned Surface Vessels

By ASR Newsdesk · 22 Oct 2026, 21:00 UTC

The Pentagon, through the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), has launched a 120-day "sprint" to rapidly acquire and field counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) armed Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs). This initiative aims to counter low-cost drone and maritime threats to surface fleets. The DIU is seeking production-ready USVs capable of integrating existing anti-air weapons to detect, track, and engage threats. The vessels must support autonomous navigation and operate in degraded communication environments, with human supervision for weapons employment. This effort is part of a larger prize challenge with potential for significant awards and follow-on agreements.