Metal Shark has entered into a strategic collaboration with Tocaro Blue to integrate advanced radar processing software into its fleet of High Speed Maneuverable Unmanned Surface Vessels (HSMUSVs).
The partnership focuses on embedding Tocaro Blue’s ProteusCore™ technology directly into the SharkTech autonomous stack, a hardware and software-agnostic system that enables unmanned or human-in-the-loop operation.
This integration is designed to provide operators with a unified maritime operating picture by automating radar data fusion, target tracking, and machine learning-based object detection. By leveraging these capabilities, the 21-foot military craft can better navigate complex environments and improve overall operational safety.
The HSMUSVs are designed as low-cost, multi-payload solutions that can be rapidly produced to meet emergent defense needs. Metal Shark, which operates facilities in Louisiana, Alabama, and Croatia, produces over 200 welded aluminum vessels annually for military and law enforcement clients. The HSMUSV platform has already undergone testing in multiple exercises across the Atlantic to prove its interoperability.
Chris Allard, CEO of Metal Shark, commented, “The interoperability of the HSMUSV platform and SharkTech autonomy stack have been thoroughly proven this year through participation in multiple exercises on both sides of the Atlantic. By incorporating Tocaro Blue’s ProteusCore™ technology, we’re taking another step toward an intelligent vessel ecosystem, enabling our customers to make faster, data-driven decisions in critical situations.”
Tocaro Blue developed the ProteusCore™ system to transform commercial off-the-shelf marine radars into high-fidelity perception sensors. The software utilizes deep neural networks to filter noise and classify objects in real-time at the edge. This capability allows the HSMUSV to maintain high-level Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) functions without requiring bespoke, high-cost radar hardware.
John Minor, CEO of Tocaro Blue, added, “Tocaro Blue designed ProteusCore™ to unlock mission-critical perception capabilities in commercial off the shelf marine radars. We’re excited to team up with an industry leader like Metal Shark to deliver advanced capabilities to our Nation’s unmanned maritime defense assets.”
The new sensing capabilities will be available across the HSMUSV fleet, supporting Metal Shark’s mission to provide specialized vessels for the US Armed Forces and international allies.
