The ship is ready to sail the world’s seas without the help of a captain or sailors. What was once just a military dream is now being realized by the NOMAR’S program.

The United States launched the world’s first unmanned ship weighing 240 tons. The vessel, called USX-1 Defiant, is designed for self-governing military missions and will be able to perform tasks without a crew.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) was involved in the development. Construction was completed in February 2025, and now testing is coming.

The 54-metre-long Defiant will be the first of a new generation of ships that do not require people on board.

The NOMAR’S program, which created the unmanned vessel, is a leader in the revolutionary direction of a radical change in the approach to maritime operations.

The absence of a crew in innovative vessels reduces costs, improves performance and increases reliability. The design perfectly withstands long-term wear and tear, allowing the ships to remain stealthy and resilient to threats.

Now Defiant will undergo testing first in port, then in the open ocean. In the spring of 2025, demonstration operations will begin, which will last several months. During them, specialists will check how ready the ship is for real tasks.

The NOMARS program has already yielded initial results. For example, tests were conducted with other unmanned vessels, Ranger and Mariner, which successfully completed a refuelling operation at sea.

Although humans were required to operate the fuel hoses, the ships themselves moved and interacted autonomously.

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The main goal of the United States is to create a fleet of water drones that can operate without a crew, even in difficult combat conditions.

Earlier, the Sea Hunter was also developed in America. This 40 m long boat is designed to counter submarines. It can patrol the ocean for several months without human beings aboard.

Another interesting project is the XLUUV (Extra Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle), which is being developed by the US Navy to perform reconnaissance and combat missions at great depths.

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DARPA says the current project will be a major step toward the future of self-sufficient naval operations. It is working with the U.S. Navy and other agencies to refine the technology. If the tests are successful, the new unmanned ships could change the way maritime operations are conducted.

The future of the unmanned fleet depends on the sophistication and learning ability of the technologies being implemented and how well such ships can cope with the tasks assigned to them. The US military is confident that autonomous technologies will help make military operations safer and more effective. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK

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