Marine Corps seeks new unmanned surface vessel

Echoing the military services' push for more unmanned systems, the Marine Corps seeks information on an unmanned surface vessel that would extend its reconnaissance reach.

In a request for information released last week, the Marine Corps is asking industry for input on a small USV that would be carried as a payload on the Long Range USV.

The LRUSV is a small naval platform designed to extend the Marine Corps’ reach and support naval forces.

The unmanned vessel will be both offensive and defensive, Marine Corps spokeswoman Kelly Flynn told Inside Defense today.

The small USV would also “provide rear area security for the USV fires mission, provide scout ability to enhance the USV fires mission, provide sea vessel intercept capability,” according to the RFI.

The vessel would potentially be initiating contact and firing a weapon, but specific details of the vessel are not yet determined, Flynn said.

This RFI fits in with the service’s larger effort to acquire unmanned systems in order to achieve Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger’s Force Design 2030.

In September, Brig. Gen. Benjamin Watson said the Marine Corps will be conducting an early operational assessment of its LRUSV.

Future testing of the small USV will be conducted in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, according to the RFI.