Historical developments in USV, UUV and UGV systems. Original milestones, source-linked evidence and reviewed UXV Searcher analysis.
DGS Industrial, UFG/CEIA, CTMRJ and CASNAV signed PD&I Partnership Agreement 09/2026 for AI research on unmanned vessels. The project covers autonomous navigation and situational awareness and runs through March 6, 2028. It is R&D, not Navy USV acquisition.
Original event: 6 Mar 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
TideWise reported that fabrication of the hull for the new SUPPRESSOR S7 USV was underway during the first half of 2026 in partnership with EMGEPRON. The milestone is prototype construction rather than delivery or operational acceptance. No 2026 delivery is inferred.
Original event: Date not documented
Published: 10 Oct 2026
CASNAV engaged U.S. NIWC Pacific on unmanned and autonomous maritime technology. The activity is an international technical/R&D exchange rather than a procurement or platform delivery.
Original event: March 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
FEMAR completed Inexigibilidade de Licitação 08/2026 for one remotely controlled multipurpose pointing system from Castro Leite Consultoria for R$215,000. The acquisition is linked to FINEP-FEMAR-CASNAV Agreement 01.25.0159.00 supporting the Navy's DMarSup research activity.
Original event: 30 Mar 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
EMGEPRON accompanied Brazilian Navy representatives led by the Commander of Naval Operations during a visit to TideWise to present the capabilities and possible employment of the SUPPRESSOR 7 and SUPPRESSOR 11. The discussion covered integrated autonomous naval operations, including mine-countermeasure and naval-patrol applications.
Original event: May 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
CASNAV demonstrated long-distance remote control of a VSNT through Project PRISMA during DroneShow Robotics 2026. The event validates command-and-control experimentation and is not a platform procurement.
Original event: June 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
During the third Submarine Cable Protection Workshop, CASNAV evaluated possible employment of VSNTs for preventive patrols and support before the arrival of cable-repair vessels. The discussions also considered interoperability among VSNTs, unmanned underwater vehicles, and UAVs for protection of critical maritime infrastructure.
Original event: June 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
CASNAV and partners advanced AI, computer-vision, route-planning and sensor-fusion integration for the VSNT-DGS/PRISMA development stream. The milestone is R&D integration and not a USV purchase.
Original event: 25 Jun 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
CASNAV installed a PRISMA control station aboard NAM Atlântico and conducted live connectivity testing. This is a mothership/C2 integration milestone and does not establish full operational USV mothership capability or a new USV procurement.
Original event: 2 Jul 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
Brazil's first Ministry of Defence seminar on unmanned systems addressed force-development and integration of unmanned capabilities, including maritime systems. The event is strategic capability development and does not announce a specific USV order.
Original event: August 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
CASNAV installed four NVIDIA H200 GPUs supporting high-performance computing for DMarSup autonomy and AI research. The development is USV-enabling R&D infrastructure rather than platform procurement.
Original event: 20 Aug 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
Brigade 162 reported progress on a 2026 surface-USV innovation project for training and combat readiness. Leadership inspected the physical project and directed accelerated completion and practical application. Value, quantity and configuration were not disclosed.
Original event: 23 Jan 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
From the start of 2026 through early March, Regiment 2 researched technical innovations including a kamikaze USV for training and combat-readiness preparation. The exact design, quantity, cost and trial status were not disclosed.
Original event: March 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
A May 13 report stated that the Brigade 146/Z751 USV had already completed Cam Ranh and offshore practical testing. The exact trial dates were not provided. Planned future Trường Sa testing is not treated as completed.
Original event: May 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
Regiment 8 developed and used a gasoline-powered kamikaze-USV training model carrying a B-41 round to simulate enemy maritime incursions. The Military Region 3 innovation council rated the model A. Cost, quantity and first-use date were not disclosed.
Original event: May 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
On 19 May 2026, the Institute of Information Technology and Electronics approved contractor-selection plan PL2600138650 for procurement of a high-speed USV. The plan placed the purchase under regular national-defense state expenditure with domestic competitive quotation and a planned package implementation period of 30 days.
Original event: 19 May 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
A procurement notice was published on May 28 for one high-speed USV under IB2600242853-00 and parent plan PL2600138650. The package value was VND550 million with a 30-day performance period. Tender stage is kept separate from the later selection result.
Original event: 28 May 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026
Military Region 5 formally established an Unmanned Vehicle Battalion on June 25. Official government reporting explicitly states missions using unmanned systems in the air, on land and on the water surface. USV type and quantity were not disclosed.
Original event: 25 Jun 2026
Published: 10 Oct 2026