Red Cat Holdings has launched a new line of Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), officially entering the maritime autonomy market.
This expansion enhances the company’s integrated unmanned systems portfolio across air, land, and sea, aligning with shifting defense priorities and the growing demand for versatile, U.S.-made solutions in contested maritime environments.
Red Cat’s move into the USV market builds upon its existing integration efforts with autonomous maritime technologies. Notably, the company has partnered with Ocean Power Technologies to combine aerial drone capabilities with ocean-going platforms. Now, with the development of its own kinetic-capable surface vessels, Red Cat is enhancing its portfolio with systems purpose-built for the contested maritime battlespace.
Jeff Thompson, Red Cat CEO, said, “This is a pivotal moment for Red Cat as we evolve from an aerial-first drone company into a true multi-domain defense provider. This expansion into maritime platforms opens significant opportunities in a fast-growing and urgently needed defense sector. As the U.S. and its allies confront rising maritime threats, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, there’s a clear demand for powerful, proven, and scalable USVs made in America. With these USVs, we’re helping to shape the future of autonomous warfare and strengthening the foundation of U.S. defense manufacturing.”
Thompson added, “This system has been used day in and day out in the current conflict, accumulating tens of thousands of hours in real combat operations and achieving dozens of successful kinetic engagements against enemy assets, more than any navy since World War II. By partnering with a company that has extensive proven experience and is well beyond the proof-of-concept stage, we gain a substantial competitive advantage as we enter this market.”
Red Cat’s USVs are being developed in collaboration with a leading global USV manufacturer, leveraging field-proven technologies with more than 10,000 hours of live combat operations. The vessels are engineered for autonomous operation as well as manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), enabling flexible deployment options in dynamic mission environments.
This new line of surface vessels will integrate seamlessly with Red Cat’s ISR and tactical drone systems, offering enhanced coordination for multi-domain operations, swarming tactics, and real-time data fusion.
At the forefront of Red Cat’s USV roadmap is the upcoming seven-meter Expeditionary Multi-Role Craft, which is set to enter production in Q3 2025. This advanced platform is designed for:
- High-speed and long-range maritime missions
- Kinetic operations including anti-ship warfare and deep-strike missions
- Extended endurance for prolonged operations in contested zones
- Large payload capacity to support flexible mission configurations
- Enhanced firepower for force projection and coastal interdiction
Engineered for operational agility and mission scalability, the platform delivers the performance and reliability required for modern naval warfare.
