Textron Systems is expanding its autonomous naval offering with a fifth-generation Multi-Mission Unmanned Surface Vessel (MMUSV) designed to carry more, go farther, and operate across a wider range of naval missions.
Built on the company’s common unmanned surface vehicle (CUSV) design, the new vessel carries roughly twice the payload of earlier models, with capacity reaching up to 5,900 kilograms (13,000 pounds).
The added lift, along with higher endurance and expanded reach, can reportedly support roles spanning surface warfare, mine countermeasures, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and signals intelligence.
Designed for contested and harsh maritime environments, the MMUSV can operate in rough seas and tow loads exceeding 1,800 kilograms (4,000 pounds). It is being positioned as a low-cost, rapidly producible system for naval operations.
“Our expertise in design, integration, and fielding have consistently delivered unrivaled maritime strength to the navy and its allies,” said David Phillips, senior vice president of Air, Land, and Sea Systems at Textron.
“The scalability of our systems ensures that the MMUSV, the next advancement in our lineup, provides enhanced mission capabilities rapidly and efficiently.”
The unveiling follows Textron’s August 2025 Low-Cost Unmanned Maritime Solution contract award, which set the stage for the MMUSV’s development, testing, and delivery.
The Backbone of MMUSV
The CUSV platform boasts an endurance of more than 20 hours and can be deployed from ports, well decks, and even littoral combat ships.
It integrates autonomous navigation and collision-avoidance systems and supports modular payloads tailored to different mission sets.
Equipped with Textron’s command-and-control architecture, the CUSV is already fielded for mine countermeasure operations, including detection, sweeping, and neutralization.
It reportedly meets NATO standards and is compatible with the SeaLancet data link, while also supporting satellite communications and complying with the Joint Architecture for Unmanned Systems protocol.
