Austal USA recently unveiled the newest addition to the U.S. Navy's unmanned surface vessel (USV) fleet, named "Overlord." The launch ceremony took place last week at the Austal USA shipyard located in Mobile, Alabama.

 In Mobile, Alabama, Austal USA's shipyard has recently launched the U.S. Navy's latest Overlord Unmanned Surface Vessel Vanguard (OUSV3). This groundbreaking vessel is the Navy's first purpose-built USV designed for autonomous operations right from its keel.

The collaborative efforts of Austal USA and L3Harris are driving the development of Vanguard. Upon completion of outfitting and testing, Vanguard will autonomously make its way to San Diego to join the ranks of sister ships OUSV2 Ranger and OUSV4 Mariner in the Navy's USV Division 1. This division, responsible for experimenting and tactically developing USVs, also operates two other USVs, Sea Hunter and Seahawk, which were developed independently of the Overlord program.



Capt. Scot Searles, the Program Manager of the Unmanned Maritime Systems program office, expressed excitement about the progress made by the L3Harris and Austal teams in constructing Vanguard. With its design and construction as a USV from the ground up, Vanguard introduces new inherent capabilities not present in previous OUSVs.

The Overlord program, overseen by the Navy's Program Executive Office for Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC) and executed by PMS 406, has been instrumental in propelling the Navy's experimentation with USVs. It has significantly accelerated Fleet knowledge and experience in utilizing USVs in operational scenarios. The insights gained from Overlord are crucial in shaping and refining requirements for the Navy's future Large USV program.

Leading the Navy's initiatives to develop, deliver, and sustain capable and affordable unmanned maritime systems to meet Fleet requirements are the Program Office for Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC) and the Unmanned Maritime Systems Program Office (PMS 406).

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