The USX-1 Defiant, a 240-ton unmanned vessel that has no analogues, has been unveiled in the United States. The vessel, developed as part of the NOMARS program, promises to change the approach to scientific missions in the ocean.
The 55-meter-long ship is designed to conduct scientific missions in difficult and dangerous marine conditions without a crew. Construction was completed in February 2025, with port and open-ocean testing ahead, and a months-long demonstration starting in the spring.
NOMARS is changing shipbuilding. The absence of a crew makes ships smaller, more stable, and even cheaper. Defiant is equipped with an AI-based navigation system that combines computer vision and motion control. This allows for precise route adjustments and tasks, including automatic refueling.
“The prototype has been successfully launched and will soon undergo sea trials, validating our approach to autonomous ship control. Our goal is to create a fleet of unmanned vessels that will enable missions at sea at a fraction of the cost of manned ships,” a DARPA spokesman said.
This breakthrough in marine robotics has major implications for the United States not only for ocean exploration, but also for defense strategy.
