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out joint training of the Protector USV off the
Israeli coast, demonstrating the USV’s capabil-
ities against naval swarm threats. Then, Moshe
Elazar, EVP and Head of the Land and Naval
Systems Division at Rafael, noted that “the
demonstration of the Protector’s capabilities
to the NATO force further enhances the need
to handle the threats emanating from terror
and criminal activity that naval forces are facing [ UNMANNED SYSTEMS ]
around the world, including swarm attacks. The
demonstration illustrated some of the capa-
bilities that can be applied by the Protector in
Royal Navy Investing in USVs a wide range of operational scenarios. These
The UK Ministry of Defence also had awarded Maritime Tactical capabilities are a significant force multiplier for
Systems (MARTAC), the Florida-based developer of modular the naval forces, from the stage of detection,
unmanned surface vessels (USVs), a GBP1.8 million (USD2.4 mil- deterrence and, if necessary, neutralization of
lion) contract to deliver five MANTAS T12 USVs to the Royal Navy the threat…”
and Joint Forces Command (JFC, now Strategic Command) for
further experimentation. Currently, Israel commands mature USV tech-
nologies in the field of advanced maritime
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is already embracing the path security and intelligence surveillance.
of USVs and has recently released its own ‘remote and autono-
mous systems-artificial intelligence’ (RAS-AI) strategy document Israel’s Elbit Systems recently introduced
that charts a course through 2040 to develop and incorporate new technologies on-board the Seagull USV
such capabilities. Local development of the Ocius Technologies’ further enhancing its capability to operate
‘Bluebottle’ USV opens up prospects for hundreds of such plat- autonomously in a busy maritime environment
forms, operating as a network to undertake surveillance tasks in a and to overcome communication challenges. A
manner that can support maritime domain awareness missions and 360-degrees Panoramic Video System with an
a range of military tasks. Although the RAN does not have specific Automatic Target Recognition capability and a
capabilities for armed autonomous platforms being developed patented Automatic Navigation System, com-
currently, the release of the RAS-AI strategy highlights a path to plement the USV's Sense and Avoid capability,
such platforms before the 2040s. enabling the vessel to operate in compliance
with the International Regulations for Preventing
Israel also excels in the USV field. As early as 2003, Israel launched Collisions at Sea 1972 (COLREGs). This
their USV project, the Protector USV, which until now has been enables the Seagull USV to operate safely in
developing for almost two decades. dense harbors, at sea with heavy traffic and
autonomously complete missions even without
In 2018, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and NATO carried communications with the control station.

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