Red Cat Holdings has expanded its autonomous maritime portfolio through its Blue Ops division, introducing two new uncrewed surface vessels engineered to address immediate operational demands for the U.S. Navy and allied forces.
The newly unveiled systems, designated the B-18 and B-39, establish a unified nomenclature based on vessel length in feet, aligning with traditional American naval and commercial shipbuilding practices. Both platforms are available for procurement alongside the division’s flagship B-26, previously known as Variant 7, which has transitioned into full-rate production at the company’s manufacturing facility in Valdosta, Georgia.
Completing sea trials ahead of schedule, the 18-foot B-18 is configured around an internationally recognized form factor for one-way attack and tactical reconnaissance missions. The craft incorporates a Modular Open Systems Approach architecture paired with combat-proven hardware, allowing straightforward integration into fleet frameworks. Designed specifically with U.S. Navy operational requirements in mind, the platform supports shipboard launch and recovery procedures, including deployment from Littoral Combat Ships as military planners evaluate cost-effective, readily fieldable autonomous alternatives.
“The Navy doesn’t need examples of what autonomous vessels might deliver years from now. It needs affordable, reliable systems that perform in real-world conditions and are available today,” said Barry Hinckley, President of Blue Ops. “That’s exactly what we’re building at Blue Ops. From one-way attack and tactical reconnaissance to maritime defense and logistics, our B-Series vessels are designed to meet immediate operational needs.”
Targeting extended-range operations, the larger 39-foot B-39 has entered low-rate production. Built upon an established commercial vessel platform with an existing manufacturing foundation, the vessel provides increased payload capacity, endurance, and operational range. These physical characteristics support persistent maritime surveillance, integrated defensive systems, and logistics in demanding naval environments. By leveraging an established commercial production history, the platform enables rapid scalability, cost-effective fielding, and the integration of diverse sensor suites and interoperable command-and-control systems.
Blue Ops was launched in 2025 by Red Cat, a defense and national security robotics provider, to deliver domestically manufactured autonomous systems for multi-domain operations. Coupling the maritime platforms with aerial uncrewed systems provides operational flexibility across domains. As Hinckley noted, “Combined with Red Cat’s aerial assets, we’re delivering a complete family of systems that gives U.S. and allied forces the capabilities and flexibility to operate across air and sea.”
