Pentagon launches $100 million competition for drone-launching unmanned boats
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The Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit released a solicitation for unmanned surface vessels capable of launching small attack drones at sea. The competition offers $100 million in prize funding and an additional $200 million in procurement contracts for companies completing testing phases.
Competition Format
The program, named Suitable Warfighting Adaptive Payloads (SWAP-USV), consists of three testing sprints with distinct rewards and technical milestones. The Pentagon has allocated $100 million in total prize funding across the competition. Companies that successfully complete a sprint become eligible for procurement contracts backed by an additional $200 million budget.
Vessel Specifications
The unmanned vessel must operate autonomously in blue-water, littoral, and other maritime environments without constant human oversight. It requires a minimum range of 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) and sustained cruising speeds of 10 knots (19 km/h). The vessel must be capable of launching cost-effective drones and supporting secondary missions like electronic warfare and communications relay.
Testing Timeline
Sprint 1 begins in-water testing in fall 2026, aiming for full field deployment within 120 days. Sprint 2, focusing on expanded payload capacity, follows in early 2027. The competition concludes with Sprint 3 in summer 2027, which will serve as the final evaluation phase.
What's Next
The first in-water tests are scheduled for fall 2026, with deployment targeted for early 2027. It remains unclear which defense contractors will emerge as front-runners in this race to bolster asymmetric maritime capabilities.
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Pentagon launches $100 million competition for drone-launching unmanned boats
