US EditionDARPA Christens USX-1 Defiant USV Ahead of Extended Ocean Trial
USX-1 Defiant is designed to operate autonomously for up to one year with 90% reliability, advancing the Navy's unmanned surface vessel capabilities under DARPA's NOMARS program.
- At Everett Ship Repair, the USX-1 Defiant was christened on Monday, August 11, 2025, marking its formal naming as a crewless autonomous naval ship prototype.
- Under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s No Manning Required Ship programme, the USX-1 Defiant was developed as a clean-sheet, crewless design to challenge traditional naval architecture.
- The USX-1 Defiant measures 180 feet and displaces 240 metric tons, rated Sea State 5, and can operate up to 12 months autonomously, Watson said.
- The USX-1 Defiant will soon begin at-sea demonstrations of reliability and endurance before transferring to the Navy’s PMS 406.
- This achievement aligns with DARPA’s mission to deliver a distributed, highly capable USV fleet, supporting at least three MASC variants amid China’s naval expansion.
24 Articles
24 Articles
DARPA christens USX-1 Defiant autonomous ship ahead of at-sea demonstrations
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency christened a new unmanned surface vessel Monday that the organization plans to transfer to the Navy following at-sea demonstrations. The platform, known as the USX-1 Defiant, has a length of 180 feet, a height of 42 feet, a displacement of 529,000 pounds, and a top speed of 20 knots. It’s designed to survive 30-foot waves and operate autonomously at sea for up to a year, DARPA said. The agency has te…
No crew required: Christening held for autonomous ship prototype in Everett
HeraldNet.com HeraldNet.com - Everett and Snohomish County news from The Daily Herald in Everett, Washington Built in Whidbey Island, the USX-1 Defiant is part of a larger goal to bring unmanned surface vessels to the US Navy. No crew required: Christening held for autonomous ship prototype in Everett Randy Diamond
Serco and DARPA launch USX-1 Defiant, first fully autonomous vessel for NOMARS programme
The 180-foot-long, 240-metric-ton demonstrator features a simplified hull to enable rapid production and maintenance in port facilities or Tier III shipyards that traditionally service yachts, tugs, and workboats. Built with no provision for human crew, Defiant is intended to deliver advantages in size, cost, at-sea reliability, hydrodynamic efficiency, and survivability, with the ability to operate in sea state 5 without performance loss and wi…
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