Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide

Defence

SubSea Craft unveils MARS USV

British advanced maritime tech company SubSea Craft (SSC) has unveiled a new Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) capability, MARS, marking the company’s second product offering following the success of its VICTA diver delivery platform.



Image courtesy SSC

Taken from concept to on the water in only 100 days, MARS offers a low-signature, mission-configurable design to maximise autonomy, survivability and operational disruption in contested environments.

Its launch comes at a time of growing international demand for USV capabilities – something SSC has sought to respond to at pace to address the evolving requirements of the UK and its allies in distributed maritime operations.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025

MARS encompasses the latest innovations in USV technology, with multi-role applications for a variety of force objectives including:

  • Wingman support to minimise risk to manned deployments and provide a force multiplying effect at the vanguard of the fleet.
  • Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities including long-range surveillance to increase the recognised maritime picture in environments with degraded communications.
  • Multidomain payloads and modular integration, allowing for both kinetic and non-kinetic effects on target. This includes the integration of Anduril’s ALTIUS.

Following its manufacture in the UK, MARS has undergone extensive testing and validation with AUKUS partners, including open water tests with the Australian Maritime College – which signed an R&D partnership with SSC in 2023.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025

The company has a growing series of multidomain platforms offering high configurability, autonomy and ease of maintenance and MARS is a continuation of this, using the same open architecture digital control system as SSC’s dual-domain craft, VICTA.

Camilla Martin, CEO of SubSea Craft, said: “There is a clear global need for the responsive development of advanced maritime platforms that can meet evolving force requirements and objectives.

“At SubSea Craft we are proud to be representing the UK on the international stage in creating scalable technologies. These can be built and serviced in-country to boost both domestic maritime capabilities and the agility of our allies.

“The development of MARS represents another milestone on our international journey. Having been developed in the UK, tested in Australia and the US, we have been able to showcase our ongoing dedication to AUKUS objectives of interoperability and technological synergy between nations.”

Penny Mordaunt, Chair of SubSea Craft and Former UK Secretary of State for Defence, said: “MARS has emerged as a disruptive force for the modern battlespace. Its successful testing following an impressive turnaround from its ideation is testament to SubSea Craft’s cutting-edge approach to accelerated research, development and delivery.”

Advertisement
PTC PTC
Evolve Dynamics launches Foxe and Wolfe

Defence

Evolve Dynamics launches Foxe and Wolfe

16 May 2025

British designer and manufacturer of advanced Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS), Evolve Dynamics, has launched two new miniaturised platforms, Foxe and Wolfe.

NP Aerospace opens defence facility in Coventry

Defence

NP Aerospace opens defence facility in Coventry

15 May 2025

NP Aerospace has formally opened its new 5.73-acre facility in Coventry, supporting UK job growth and global defence needs.

Navantia UK appoints Donato Martínez as CEO

Defence

Navantia UK appoints Donato Martínez as CEO

15 May 2025

Navantia UK has today appointed Donato Martínez as the company's new CEO, succeeding Juan Ignacio de la Cueva, who accomplished the first steps of the integration of Harland & Wolff, including unlocking key investments for the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) programme.

Serco awarded Maritime Services contracts to support Royal Navy

Defence

Serco awarded Maritime Services contracts to support Royal Navy

15 May 2025

Serco has been awarded three contracts with a combined value of over £1 billion by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to provide maritime services for the Royal Navy. The contracts, which replace existing services and expand into new capabilities will commence later this year.

Advertisement
ODU RT
AUKUS supply chain strengthened

Defence

AUKUS supply chain strengthened

14 May 2025

H&B Defence – a joint venture between HII Nuclear Australia and Babcock – has secured its first contract to enhance supply chain capabilities for the global AUKUS enterprise through the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification Pilot Programme.

MoD receives first of six H145s

Defence

MoD receives first of six H145s

13 May 2025

The first of six Airbus H145 helicopters that will serve in Brunei and Cyprus has been handed over to UK MoD.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025