Historical developments in USV, UUV and UGV systems. Original milestones, source-linked evidence and reviewed UXV Searcher analysis.
A Royal Navy-supported experiment demonstrated airdrop of an uncrewed surface vessel from an A400M over a six-day trial period. The vessel was dropped multiple times and subsequently operated. This is distinct from the procurement award.
Original event: 8 Jul 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
ACUA Ocean and Teledyne FLIR completed a UKDI-funded demonstration integrating a tethered SkyRanger R70 with Pioneer. The UAS was launched from the USV and operated through a managed tether for persistent airborne surveillance. The demonstration validated integration and open-ocean operation but did not represent procurement.
Original event: July 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
KHM Portsmouth authorized remote and autonomous trials involving BRAVO and RATTLER vessels from July 28 through year-end. The notice establishes a new trial window but does not prove every planned trial occurred.
Original event: 27 Jul 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
DCTO published a pipeline/planning notice for a medium USV capability intended as a multi-role testbed. The estimate is about GBP8.33 million excluding VAT / GBP10 million including VAT. It is not a live tender or award.
Original event: 5 Aug 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
UFORCE launched its first UK-developed autonomous sea drone for prospective defense and security applications. The launch is a product-development/market milestone and does not establish a UK military contract.
Original event: 5 Aug 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
ZeroUSV unveiled Oceanus17, a 17 m successor to Oceanus12, in August 2026. The event is a product-launch milestone rather than evidence of Royal Navy procurement or delivery.
Original event: 18 Aug 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
ZeroUSV demonstrated Oceanus12 autonomously deploying two Oshen C-Star surface drones during UKDI-backed trials in Plymouth. The project combines Oceanus12, C-Star and MarineAI's autonomy software to demonstrate coordinated multi-platform surface operations for defense and security missions.
Original event: August 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
ASELSAN and Indonesian company PT Republic signed agreements on May 6 covering USV payloads and mission-critical communication systems for Indonesian defense users. The USV host platform, payload configuration, quantity and contract value were not disclosed.
Original event: 6 May 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
Kogabwilhan I transferred an autonomous/remote-control Drone Jetski to Kodaeral XII for water and coastal security, and its capability was inspected on May 19. The same event included an operational water trial of a separate Mud Boat, but the source does not state that the Drone Jetski itself completed that trial.
Original event: 19 May 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
Pushidrosal conducted a factory visit to Teledyne Marine Denmark from May 24 to 30 as part of Indonesian naval hydrographic-technology modernization. The visit included technical review of the MB2/T20 system associated with the USV Z-Boat, alongside separate AUV and glider technologies.
Original event: May 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
Republikorp and Barzan Holdings signed a strategic JV agreement covering defense-industry development and production capabilities including USVs. The broader cooperation value cannot be assigned to USVs.
Original event: 2 Jun 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
Milanion and Republikorp announced expansion of their existing Indonesian fast-attack USV cooperation. The earlier five-unit figure belongs to the 2025 parent agreement and is not carried into the 2026 expansion.
Original event: 17 Jun 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
ASELSAN Indonesia reported inspection of multiple USV platforms under production at PT Tesco Indomaritim. Platform type, military customer, mission and exact quantity were not publicly identified; the vessels are not automatically attributed to TNI AL.
Original event: 1 Jul 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
PT PAL Indonesia's Kamikaze USV successfully executed a strike mission during the TNI joint exercise at Dabo Singkep on August 5 while the platform remained under development. PT PAL states that the system can be remotely controlled or follow autonomous routes, reaches up to 55 knots, carries a 150 kg warhead and also supports ISR missions.
Original event: 5 Aug 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
Pushidrosal presented and explained the Autonomous Surface Vehicle capability carried aboard KRI Canopus-936 to senior defense and government stakeholders in Jakarta Bay on August 12. The ASV was shown as part of the vessel's hydro-oceanographic equipment suite alongside separate underwater and aerial systems.
Original event: 12 Aug 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
TideWise mobilized Tupan II on January 24 to support the Brazilian Navy's search for the missing fishing vessel Funelli. The USV remained a TideWise asset under Navy operational coordination; this was military support, not Navy procurement.
Original event: 24 Jan 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
FEMAR's final-result page identifies Resposta Rapida Tecnologia Ltda. as the winning supplier for ten DMarSup workstations at BRL 196,800. The procurement meeting/selection session was scheduled for February 25, but the final-result publication/update date is not separately stated.
Original event: February 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
EMGEPRON's approved annual procurement plan included BRL600,000 estimated spending for SUPPRESSOR demonstration services and possible related equipment, with a planned quantity of three. This is a planning allocation, not a 2026 contract award.
Original event: 27 Feb 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026