Red Cat Holdings‘ maritime divison, Blue Ops, has completed the first integration of a Volvo Penta D4-320 diesel engine and DPI drive into its Variant 7 Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV).
The integration adds a 320-horsepower, 3.7-liter, four-cylinder common-rail diesel package to the propulsion configurations available for the Variant 7 (V7), a mission-adaptable USV designed, built and assembled in the United States for U.S. and allied defense missions. Paired with the DPI DuoProp drive, the package is designed to deliver responsive handling, durability and efficient marine performance.
The propulsion system has been integrated with the vessel’s autonomous navigation, remote operation, mission planning and payload management capabilities. It also gives Blue Ops customers access to Volvo Penta’s global parts and services network, benefiting operators running USVs globally who depend on rapid service.
Barry Hinckley, President of Blue Ops, commented, “We design our boats to give customers flexibility while maintaining the reliability, maintainability and mission performance required for demanding maritime operations. Integrating the Volvo Penta D4-320 gives operators another proven propulsion option from a manufacturer they know and trust, while preserving the common autonomy and mission architecture at the core of the platform.”
Built around Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) principles, the V7 supports missions including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; force protection; harbor and coastal security; and contested logistics. Its open architecture allows customers to configure propulsion, payloads, sensors, communications and mission systems according to operational requirements. The Volvo Penta integration maintains compatibility with the platform’s autonomy, control and mission systems.
Brock Gavin, Vice President of marine sales and service for Volvo Penta North America, added, “Volvo Penta is committed to delivering dependable propulsion solutions, as well as parts and support for customers where and when they need it. The integration of the D4-320 and DPI drive into Variant 7 demonstrates how proven propulsion technology can support the growing requirements of autonomous maritime operations in demanding environments. We are pleased to support Blue Ops with reliable propulsion solutions and service expertise as the company continues to develop and deploy innovative autonomous marine technologies for its customers.”
The integration follows Blue Ops’ move into full-rate production of the V7. As the maritime division of Red Cat Holdings, a U.S.-based provider of advanced all-domain drone and robotic solutions for defense and national security, Blue Ops is focused on delivering production-ready USVs that can be configured for a wide range of missions and customer requirements.
The expanded propulsion options also support Red Cat’s wider strategy to build a flexible portfolio of autonomous systems across air, land, sea and space.
