Technology: UK SubSea Craft unveils MARS next generation unmanned surface vessel for modern naval warfare.

On May 1, 2025, British maritime technology company SubSea Craft officially unveiled its latest cutting-edge innovation: the MARS (Maritime Autonomous Reconnaissance System), a multi-mission uncrewed surface vessel (USV) tailored for the operational demands of modern and future maritime warfare. Developed in just 100 days, MARS stands as a hallmark of rapid, platform-level innovation, engineered to address the urgent tactical needs identified through lessons learned from recent global conflicts, notably the war in Ukraine and operations in the Black Sea.
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MARS uncrewed surface vessel developed by UK’s SubSea Craft during sea trials following rapid 100 day production cycle. (Picture source: Subsea Craft)

The conflict in Ukraine has accelerated global interest in autonomous and unmanned systems, particularly in the maritime domain. Ukrainian forces’ creative use of uncrewed surface vessels—many of them commercially modified or rapidly improvised—highlighted their effectiveness in asymmetric naval warfare, including in contested areas such as the Black Sea. These vessels have been used to disrupt larger Russian warships and coastal infrastructure, proving the strategic value of low-cost, expendable platforms capable of high-risk missions where deploying manned assets would be too dangerous or politically sensitive. This operational context has prompted defense innovators like SubSea Craft to respond with scalable, purpose-built USVs that are both versatile and rapidly deployable.

MARS is designed for projection from medium to large surface platforms, and combines a low signature with high-speed capability. Its role spans from blue-water operations to littoral zones and inland waterways, reflecting a growing need for vessels that can operate seamlessly across varied maritime environments. Whether deployed autonomously or as part of a manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) framework, MARS provides scalable, multi-mission capabilities ideally suited for modern naval scenarios where flexibility and risk mitigation are paramount.

The MARS platform supports a broad range of mission profiles, including maritime domain awareness, persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), counter-uncrewed systems (UxS), and full-spectrum ISTAR operations. With an open architecture digital control system—evolved from the company’s earlier VICTA platform—MARS is compatible with scalable C5ISR networks and a variety of kinetic and non-kinetic modular payloads. This adaptability allows the vessel to integrate seamlessly into both asymmetrical and conventional force structures.

Significantly, MARS has been designed, built, and put into the water in just over three months, a testament to SubSea Craft’s agile engineering process and operator-led development philosophy. Manufactured in the UK, the platform has already undergone field trials in Australia, in collaboration with the Australian Maritime College, and has been tested with U.S.-developed payloads, reinforcing its international interoperability and appeal, particularly within the AUKUS defense framework.

SubSea Craft plans to exhibit the MARS platform at major defense expos throughout 2025, including SOF Week in Tampa, DEFEA in Athens, and DSEI in London. These events will allow defense stakeholders to explore the capabilities of MARS firsthand and assess its value in modernizing naval forces and preparing for increasingly complex and high-risk maritime operations.

As the nature of conflict evolves, with greater emphasis on autonomy, survivability, and operational reach, platforms like MARS signify a clear shift in how maritime power can be projected and sustained. SubSea Craft’s approach underscores a broader transformation in naval doctrine—one in which modular, unmanned, and quickly deployable systems will play a pivotal role in maintaining maritime superiority.