The “T38 Devil Ray” unmanned surface vessel (USV) developed by Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc. (MARTAC) has successfully completed an eight-day fully autonomous maritime mission off the coast of California. The trial is being seen as a significant milestone in endurance, reliability, and operational control.
During the test, the USV operated in real sea conditions without any escort vessels or external support. It demonstrated full compliance with the COLREG-72 international collision regulations, autonomously avoiding both stationary and moving obstacles during navigation.
As part of the mission, a planned two-day single-engine endurance mode was tested over a distance of 400 nautical miles. This phase aimed to evaluate fuel efficiency and operational resilience. The vessel also confirmed its ability to exceed 2,400 nautical miles in endurance mode and demonstrated a capability to reach speeds of over 50 knots when required.
In addition, the carbon-fiber catamaran hull showed strong stability in sea states up to level 5 (waves reaching approximately 3 meters). This performance is considered crucial for accurate sensor data collection and sustained operations in harsh maritime environments.
Experts say the successful trial significantly expands the potential use of unmanned maritime platforms in long-duration reconnaissance, surveillance, and security missions.
