U.S. Army Tests Mk VI Patrol Boat With Autonomous Drones to Extend Pacific Littoral Reconnaissance.

The U.S. Army tested autonomous aerial drones and unmanned surface vessels alongside a Mk VI patrol boat during Bayonet Quest 26 in Michigan, bringing crewed and uncrewed systems together for distributed operations in a littoral environment. The activity gives a Pacific-focused Army formation practical experience coordinating maritime mobility with autonomous air and surface assets across coastal terrain.

The U.S. Army brought a Mk VI patrol boat, fixed-wing unmanned aircraft and several autonomous surface vessels together during Bayonet Quest 26 in Michigan, testing how crewed and uncrewed systems can operate as a combined maritime team. Conducted from September 26 to October 6, 2026, the exercise focused on distributed operations in coastal terrain and gave the participating Pacific-oriented formation a setting to integrate aerial and surface autonomy with a crewed patrol craft.

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U.S. Army footage from Bayonet Quest 26 shows autonomous aerial and surface systems operating alongside a Mk VI patrol boat during maritime testing in Michigan. (Picture source: US DoD)

The most interesting part is not the individual drones, but the way they were used together. Footage from the exercise shows unmanned aircraft operating from the Mk VI while surface drones maneuver nearby, turning the patrol boat into a mobile hub for launch, recovery, and coordination. In one sequence, a UAV is recovered on the fantail while the Mk VI remains underway. In another, the crewed vessel leads a formation of unmanned surface craft, giving the event a clear crewed-uncrewed teaming dimension rather than a simple technology demonstration.

According to material published by the 7th Infantry Division on October 6, 2026, soldiers conducted autonomous drone testing throughout Bayonet Quest 26 across several locations in Michigan. SIX Maritime, whose crew operated the Mk VI during the maritime phase, said the patrol boat worked alongside UAVs and unmanned surface vessels, including formation maneuvers and recovery of an aircraft at sea. The U.S. Army has not released a full list of the autonomous systems involved, nor has it identified the software architecture, data links, or command-and-control suite used during the trials.

The available imagery nevertheless provides clues about the systems under evaluation. One of the unmanned surface vessels appears consistent with Saronic’s Corsair, a 24-foot autonomous craft designed for distributed maritime missions. Saronic gives the Corsair a speed above 35 knots, a range exceeding 1,000 nautical miles, and a payload capacity of up to 1,000 pounds, or roughly 454 kg. Its modular architecture is intended to support different sensor and mission packages, while multichannel communications allow it to operate as part of a wider network rather than as an isolated boat.

Another craft visible in the exercise resembles the Ukrainian MAGURA V5, although the Army has not confirmed that identification. The MAGURA V5 is about 5.5 meters long, can reach around 42 knots and has an advertised range of roughly 450 nautical miles. Its payload capacity reaches about 320 kg, and the system can use radio mesh, airborne relay, or satellite communications depending on mission configuration. Ukraine has used the type operationally in the Black Sea, giving it a very different combat pedigree from most experimental U.S. autonomous boats.

The Mk VI itself is central to the concept being tested. The 25.9-meter patrol boat is powered by two MTU 16V2000 M94 diesel engines driving Hamilton HM651 waterjets. It can exceed 35 knots and has a range greater than 600 nautical miles, while its shallow draft allows it to work close to shore. More important in this context, the Mk VI provides deck space, crew, communications, and mobility in one package, making it suitable as a forward control and recovery node for unmanned systems operating around it.

That combination matters tactically. A crewed patrol boat can carry operators and maintain command links while UAVs extend surveillance beyond the immediate horizon and USVs push farther forward into potentially exposed waters. Surface drones can scout approaches, carry sensors or communications relays, and increase the number of assets covering a sector without putting sailors on every hull. Recovering a UAV while underway also reduces the need to stop or return to a fixed launch point, helping maintain tempo during dispersed missions.

For a formation focused on the Pacific, the logic is clear. Future operations across island chains and littoral zones will place a premium on mobility, persistent sensing, and the ability to distribute forces over large areas without relying on a small number of high-value crewed systems. A Mk VI operating with autonomous aircraft and boats creates a small but flexible maritime team that can extend reconnaissance and command functions around dispersed Army units.

Bayonet Quest 26 therefore points to a broader shift in how the U.S. Army is preparing for Indo-Pacific operations. The service is not trying to become a navy, but it is testing how land forces can use maritime mobility and autonomous systems to operate across coastlines, islands, and narrow sea lanes. Against a Chinese military that is also investing heavily in unmanned aircraft and maritime drones, the ability to combine crewed patrol craft with expendable or remotely operated systems could give U.S. forces more options for sensing, screening, and maneuver in contested littorals.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests include security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.

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