Japan Unveils AI-Powered Uncrewed Combat Vessel to Transform Maritime Defense
Japan’s AI-enabled uncrewed surface vehicle supports multipurpose combat with modular payloads and real-time connectivity. Sea trials are planned for 2027 to enhance JMSDF capabilities.

Japanese Navy Advances with AI-Driven Uncrewed Surface Vehicle for Autonomous Operations
On May 21, 2025, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), in collaboration with Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), unveiled a new AI-enabled uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) at the DSEI Japan exhibition in Chiba. This USV is developed to support multipurpose combat missions, integrating autonomy, modular payloads, and persistent connectivity to boost the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s (JMSDF) operational capabilities.
This AI-integrated USV introduces a shift in Japan’s maritime defense by combining advanced autonomy with modular lethality and real-time network warfare functions. It aligns with Japan’s strategic push to modernize and incorporate unmanned systems in response to regional security challenges.
Key Features and Capabilities
- Advanced Sensors: Equipped with electro-optical/infrared cameras and radar systems, the USV uses AI for real-time threat detection and decision support, enabling it to identify various naval threats efficiently.
- Modular Payloads: The reconfigurable aft deck allows containerized payloads such as sea-to-air and sea-to-ground missile systems, adaptable for multiple mission types including anti-ship, air defense, and strike operations.
- Size and Control: Projected to be up to 50 meters long, it operates via MHI’s proprietary CoasTitan C2 system, which coordinates fleets of unmanned surface, aerial, and underwater platforms.
- Swarm Connectivity: The USV maintains real-time communication with other vessels in its fleet, enabling distributed data sharing, enhanced situational awareness, and resilience against jamming or failures.
- Underwater Warfare: It supports anti-submarine missions through deployable torpedoes or unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), adding sub-surface combat abilities.
Operational Context and Development Roadmap
The USV builds on Japan’s experience with MHI’s earlier “Whale” USV, which served as a test platform for integrating surface and underwater drones. While still in the design phase, sea trials are planned for 2027 under the Outrange Mine Countermeasure Operation initiative.
This program reflects Japan’s long-term focus on unmanned naval warfare, moving from mine countermeasures to armed autonomous operations. It demonstrates a hybrid approach by combining destroyer-class functions with scalable autonomy, rather than just creating scout or decoy vessels.
Strategic and Regional Impact
When deployed alongside JMSDF destroyers, this USV enhances distributed lethality and reduces risks to manned vessels. Its persistent connectivity supports coordinated tactical operations, especially in contested zones such as the East China Sea and the Pacific.
The modular missile payloads allow quick adaptation to shifting threat landscapes, increasing operational flexibility. Furthermore, as Japan strengthens defense ties with allies like the United States and Australia, the USV could integrate into multinational maritime command and data-sharing networks, supporting collective deterrence.
Comparisons to Other USVs
Compared to platforms like the U.S. Navy’s Overlord or Israel’s Seagull, Japan’s USV stands out for its containerized armament and AI-based target classification. While U.S. systems focus on intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and logistics, Japan’s vehicle combines strike and underwater warfare capabilities within a single modular hull.
This approach offers a scalable, multi-domain combat tool that enhances force multiplication without relying solely on traditional manned platforms.
Looking Ahead
With initial sea trials expected by 2027, this AI-driven USV sets the stage for a broader transformation in naval operations across the Indo-Pacific. It demonstrates Japan’s commitment to maintaining technological edge and operational adaptability in maritime defense.
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