The groundbreaking unmanned surface vessel known as the Lightfish reached Portugal just over two months after its June launch by the U.S. Navy, setting a new precedent for unmanned surface vehicles (USVs).

This autonomous, solar-powered vessel, produced by Seasats, is designed with solar panels that gather and store energy effectively, even under overcast conditions. Additionally, it includes a battery and a generator that can extend its operational range to more than 500 nautical miles in urgent scenarios. The Lightfish has the capability to autonomously detect and navigate around obstacles or can be controlled remotely if necessary.

Deployed from Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina by the Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic’s Unmanned Naval Innovation Team, the Lightfish set sail to Troia, Portugal in late June. Throughout its voyage, the vessel operated autonomously but remained under the surveillance of various naval commands. The operation was supported by the Commander, Task Force 66 of the U.S. 6th Fleet, which specializes in autonomous systems and is informally known as “the Black Sea Battle Lab.”

Michael Grass, the lead scientist and program manager at UNIT, explained in a naval release, “We shifted command and control of the Lightfish at least twice daily among different Navy numbered fleets. Each day began and ended with a change in command, taking over the responsibility and oversight of the vessel throughout its journey.”

The Lightfish surpassed the previous record for a USV by completing its 4,000-mile journey in just over two months, with only minor signs of wear and a few barnacles as evidence of its long journey.

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Upon completing its transatlantic journey, the Lightfish participated directly in REPMUS, a NATO exercise focusing on autonomous crafts, which this year included over 30 nations and was hosted by Portugal.

“The extent of human involvement in unmanned operations is often underestimated,” stated Navy Lt. Alexander Varon, the officer responsible for unmanned software development within CTF 66. “There is significant human effort involved in deploying, recovering, maintaining, and operating these crafts, as well as in the substantial engineering support provided by NIWC Atlantic in Charleston, South Carolina, which helps integrate these vessels into a unified system network.”

Varon also highlighted that vessels like the Lightfish are transforming military operations and significantly reducing the risk to human life by performing potentially hazardous tasks. “As demonstrated, USVs and drones are emerging as significant asymmetric threats. They are cost-effective, replaceable, and can be deployed in dangerous settings without risking human lives, thus allowing our national assets to focus on higher priority missions or undergo necessary maintenance,” he concluded.