LUSV Unmanned Surface Vessels at Center of Naval Strategy

Having previously served in the US Marines, Adam Schwarze now serves as an officer-in-charge and mission commander with the Navy SEALs. A US Navy lieutenant, Adam Schwarze has a strong interest in trends related to his sector and holds a certificate in international security.

As explored in a Naval News article, one component in the Navy’s arsenal currently under expansion is the large unmanned surface vessel (LUSV). Though not strictly a combat warship, the redefined vessel appears to be a deep-strike, anti-air, anti-ship platform. The LUSV could also be used for aviation and vehicle transport and as a platform for fighting vehicles.

While the prospective LUSV’s exact speed and range are classified, available estimates place the 200- to 300-foot vessel’s range at 3,500 nautical miles. It would be the size of a corvette, which falls between a patrol craft and a frigate.

The combat capabilities of such vessels have been previously demonstrated. A current model LUSV, the USV Ranger, has been shown in US Defense Department videos test firing a standard surface-to-air SM-6 missile. This indicates the potential for arming future LUSV. Four vertical launch system cells could potentially fit in a standard-size commercial shipping container. This would, in the author’s view, provide “concealment, disguise, and distributed firepower,” cementing the LUSV’s status as an “adjunct magazine” to the Naval fleet.