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Unmanned Systems

DARPA Launches Prototype USV Designed For Zero Sailors

Thursday, March 6th, 2025

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DARPA Launches Prototype USV Designed For Zero Sailors

DARPA’s USX-1 Defiant, the NOMARS program prototype vessel designed to operate unmanned at sea, built without any features to accommodate a crew. (Photo: DARPA)

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently announced its No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) program launched the first prototype unmanned surface vessel (USV) designed with no crew accommodations, USX-1 Defiant. DARPA noted the NOMAS program “has built a ship designed to operate autonomously for long durations at sea,” according to a Tuesday DARPA statement. Construction of the Defiant was completed in February. In 2022, DARPA chose Serco Inc. to build this NOMARS prototype. At the time, the vessel was…

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