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Navy/USMC

DIU Opens Second Phase In USV Prize Challenge

Tuesday, October 20th, 2026

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DIU Opens Second Phase In USV Prize Challenge

Multiple Saronic autonomous surface vessels in formation during testing in Texas. Photo: Saronic

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) this week launched the second phase, or sprint, of a three-phase 12-month prize challenge seeking production-ready maritime counter-air solutions based on Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs). The Suitable Warfighting Adaptive Payloads (SWAP)-USV Sprint 2 competition specifically seeks “mature, production-ready USVs fully integrated with mature hard-kill Counter-Air effectors and clutter-resilient sensor suites to detect, identify, track, and defeat hostile airborne threats. This program addresses a critical gap in affordable maritime air defense and organic fleet self-defense,” the…

Congress

Trump Urges Senate To Move ‘Immediately’ On $350 Billion Defense Reconciliation Bill In Lame Duck

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Congress

House Republicans Block Measure To Impeach Hegseth

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Congress

Top House Defense Appropriator Calvert Officially Wins Reelection Bid

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Congress

No Path To Defense Reconciliation, Including GOP’s $350 Billion, Coons Says

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