en.Wedoany.com Reported - Australian technology company Leidos Australia announced in June 2026 that it has commenced sea trials of its new unmanned surface vessel (USV), the "Sea Archer." Measuring 11.2 meters in length, the vessel is being tested in the waters off Australia's Northern Territory to evaluate its performance under various sea conditions.
Leidos Australia is a subsidiary of the U.S. technology company Leidos, specializing in providing scientific, technological, and engineering solutions for defense, intelligence, and civilian markets. The Sea Archer was designed through Leidos' internal research and development investment and is entirely built in Australia. The first vessel was constructed by Oceans Rivers Lakes on the Central Coast of New South Wales and is planned to achieve operational capability by 2026. It features an aluminum hull and is equipped with Leidos' proprietary LAVA (Leidos Autonomous Vessel Architecture) autonomous system, supporting navigation, obstacle avoidance, and mission execution.
The Sea Archer is designed to carry a payload of up to 900 kilograms and can reach a maximum speed of 40 knots. Its rated range is 1,500 nautical miles, which can be extended by up to 20% by adding extra fuel tanks in the payload bay. Thanks to its reconfigurable payload capacity, the USV can perform a variety of missions, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare, logistics support, and strike operations. In its current configuration, the vessel is equipped with Furuno radar and Leidos' advanced autonomous software, powered by two Cox Marine V8 diesel outboard engines. It can operate stably in sea states up to 4 and even perform duties in rough sea states 5 to 6 under light load conditions.
In November 2025, Leidos Australia signed a memorandum of understanding with Kongsberg to explore the integration of the Naval Strike Missile onto the Sea Archer and another large USV, the "Longbow." Testing of related capabilities is planned for 2026 in the United States and Australia. Additionally, Australia's 2024 Surface Fleet Review recommended the procurement of six large optionally manned surface vessels (LOSVs), and the Sea Archer is considered one of the candidates to meet this requirement.
The sea trials of the Sea Archer mark a critical step toward its operational deployment. Its modular design and localized construction model provide significant support for Australia's efforts to enhance its autonomous maritime unmanned systems capabilities.
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