New uncrewed systems demonstrate maritime and aerial combat capabilities

Recent military technology demonstrations have showcased the evolving combat roles of uncrewed platforms. In the United Kingdom, Seeing Systems has launched the Reaver 101, an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) capable of carrying, launching, and recovering up to 100 strike drones. Designed for long-range operations with a maximum range of 2,000 nautical miles, the vessel features a single command-and-control layer for both sea and air assets. It is designed to operate in GPS-denied environments using inertial dead reckoning and radar, and can be reconfigured for littoral strikes, anti-surface warfare, reconnaissance, or offshore air defense.

In the United States, BAE Systems successfully demonstrated the combat potential of a logistics platform during an experiment at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. A modified TRV-150 cargo drone, originally designed for transporting supplies, was equipped with laser-guided APKWS rockets to intercept multiple one-way attack drones. This test highlights the ability to repurpose existing heavy-lift electric quadcopters for air defense, providing a more cost-effective alternative to conventional air-to-air missiles.