Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs)
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RS Aqua has formed a strategic partnership with Seasats, a San Diego-based developer of Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs), to introduce the company’s maritime security platforms to defence customers in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Seasats develops high-endurance, modular USVs designed to provide persistent maritime domain awareness through autonomous operations that have been extensively tested in real-world conditions. Under the agreement, RS Aqua will represent the Seasats portfolio in the UK and Ireland and provide local support for the systems.
Among the platforms being introduced is the Lightfish, a modular USV built for long-duration autonomous missions. The system is intended for a range of applications including defence operations, maritime security, critical infrastructure protection, and oceanographic research. Its adaptable design supports integration of multiple payload types, enabling Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR), and maritime mapping missions while helping reduce operational risk and lifecycle costs.
Lightfish has already been adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps and has demonstrated its capabilities through ocean crossings and deployments in operations worldwide.
Core Capabilities:
- Multi-modal communications: Starlink, Iridium, cellular, MANET radios
- Redundant sensor package: Marine radar, HD and thermal cameras, AIS broadcast/receive, LiDAR
- Open systems architecture for integration with third-party C2 platforms
- Browser-based UI operable via secure tablet, laptop, or mobile device
- Launch/recovery in <10 minutes with man-portable components and no shipboard crane or davit required
Technical Specifications:
- Length: 11.4 feet
- Endurance: Multi-month
- Range: 8,000 nautical miles
- Cruise speed: 2.0 knots (5 knots sprint)
- Power: 415W nominal solar;
- Battery: 4.0 kWh lithium-ion
- Operational sea state: Up to Sea State 6
The partnership will also introduce the Quickfish, a 5.5-metre high-speed interceptor USV capable of remaining at sea for several weeks at a time. The platform is designed to address increasing coastal security requirements related to surface, subsurface, and small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) threats, which are becoming more prevalent globally. Through the collaboration with RS Aqua, the Quickfish platform will be made available in the UK to support the development of domestic maritime security capabilities.
Dr. Ryan Mowat, Director of Innovation & Business Development, commented, “We’re excited to be partnering with Seasats to bring their unmanned vessels to the UK and Ireland. Their platforms answer a very real need for persistent, low-risk maritime awareness, whether that’s for security or supporting long-term ocean monitoring. Being able to integrate a multitude of sensors makes it an ideal fit for RS Aqua’s portfolio of ocean intelligence gathering systems.”
Mike Flanigan, CEO Seasats, added, “We’ve worked closely with UK partners for years, and we’re excited to expand our presence in the UK market in a more formal way. Local expertise and strong allies are critical to successfully fielding technology in hard problem areas, and RS Aqua is that bedrock partner for us in the UK.”
As the UK and NATO partners continue to prioritise maritime domain awareness, offshore infrastructure protection, and the integration of unmanned technologies, the Seasats USV portfolio offers defence organisations scalable and rapidly deployable capabilities suited to modern maritime operations.
