Britain's maritime firm unveils upgraded MARS unmanned surface vessel

British maritime technology company SubSea Craft has announced a major upgrade to its MARS Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV), expanding the capabilities of the autonomous platform as demand grows for scalable naval drone systems.

In a company statement, SubSea Craft said the latest evolution of MARS was developed through extensive testing and close collaboration with operators to ensure the vessel remains aligned with operational requirements, Caliber.Az reports. 

The company said the upgraded system follows its “prototype warfare” approach — rapidly developing innovative technologies, testing them in realistic operational conditions, and refining them based on real-world feedback.

Several core technologies from the original MARS platform have been retained, including the digital control system also used in VICTA, the company’s optionally manned dual-domain craft capable of operating on both sea and land.

According to SubSea Craft, the new MARS variant has been adapted for international deployment, featuring ventilation systems for both propulsion and modular payload bays to support operations in diverse climates, including the Middle East.

The upgraded vessel is currently undergoing advanced testing and is expected to be delivered under an existing customer contract.

“This release of MARS demonstrates our focus on delivering mature, operational capability,” said Camilla Martin, chief executive of SubSea Craft.

“By iteratively enhancing the existing platform, we are able to rapidly field improved performance while maintaining the reliability and deployability our customers expect,” she added.

Martin also highlighted growing global demand for autonomous defence systems, saying the latest development reflects the company’s commitment to supporting the United Kingdom and allied nations with domestically developed technology.

SubSea Craft said MARS has now entered production following extensive testing and refinement, marking a step toward large-scale deployment of compact autonomous maritime systems designed for operations in challenging environments.

By Sabina Mammadli