Unmanned surface vessel technologies showcased in Brazil and NATO exercises

Developments in unmanned surface vessel (USV) technology are being showcased through major industry exhibitions and multinational military exercises.

At the Rio Oil & Gas 2026 event in Brazil, OceanAlpha presented its V180 and L42B USV platforms. The V180 is designed for subsea survey, inspection, and ROV operations with a 35-tonne payload capacity and 30-day endurance. The L42B focuses on hydrographic and offshore surveys, including wind and cable route inspections.

In a separate maritime operation, Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) deployed three classes of its WAM-V vessels during the REPMUS 2026 exercise in Portugal. Led by the Portuguese Navy in collaboration with NATO, the exercise tested the vessels across five mission sets: rapid environmental assessment, mine countermeasures, harbor security, surveillance and reconnaissance, and above-water warfare. The OPT vessels integrated with US command and control systems during the multinational robotic experimentation exercise.