Red Cat Holdings, a leading developer of advanced drone solutions for defense, government, and commercial applications, has entered the maritime unmanned systems market with the launch of its new line of Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs).
This strategic expansion strengthens Red Cat’s position as a provider of fully interoperable, multi-domain unmanned systems capable of supporting operations across air, land, and sea.
The company’s move into maritime autonomy reflects a broader shift in defense priorities, with an increasing focus on contested maritime domains and the need for distributed, autonomous, and American-manufactured systems.
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.”
Red Cat’s new USV platform is being developed in collaboration with a leading global USV manufacturer and benefits from extensive real-world operational experience. The platform has logged over 10,000 hours of combat-proven performance, and is designed to operate either fully autonomously or as part of a Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) configuration. This enables seamless integration with Red Cat’s existing ISR and aerial drone systems, supporting multi-domain coordination and swarming tactics.
The centerpiece of this new line is the Expeditionary Multi-Role Craft, a seven-meter USV engineered for kinetic maritime operations. Production is slated to begin in Q3, with the craft optimized for high-speed, long-range missions requiring enhanced firepower, endurance, and payload capacity.
The new USV platform is purpose-built for modern naval engagements, including anti-ship warfare, deep-strike missions, and coastal interdiction.
Key Capabilities
- Extended Range and Endurance: Designed for long-duration missions in contested waters.
- High Payload Capacity: Accommodates mission-specific sensors, weapons, and communication systems.
- Interoperability: Fully compatible with Red Cat’s air and land-based systems, enabling true multi-domain operations.
- Combat Proven: Over 10,000 operational hours in live combat environments demonstrate system reliability and effectiveness.
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.”
This maritime expansion builds upon Red Cat’s previous partnership with Ocean Power Technologies, where integration of Red Cat’s aerial drones with autonomous maritime platforms laid the groundwork for cross-domain collaboration. By developing its own line of kinetic-capable surface vessels, Red Cat now offers a unified family of unmanned systems tailored to evolving defense requirements.
