DARPA (The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) has christened its fully unmanned warship prototype. The first of its kind “No Manning Required Ship” (NOMARS) vessel was completed at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders shipyard in Freeland, Washington and was launched and christened as the USX-1 Defiant in a ceremony at Everett Ship Repair in mid-August 2025.
After completing sea trials over the next several months without human intervention, Defiant will be turned over to the U.S. Navy’s Unmanned Maritime Systems Program Office (PMS 406). Defiant’s sleek-hull design is intended for speed and efficiency. She is 180-feet in length, with a 24-tonne displacement. Designed for extended voyages in the open ocean, she can handle operations in sea state 5 (waves 8-13 feet) and survive higher seas. Without the need to support and protect sailors, the Defiant has space for deck-mounted equipment and space for a variety of containerized payloads, including vertical launch system missiles.
Due to the simplified hull design, these NOMAR vessels allow for rapid production and maintenance at shipyards that traditionally support yacht, tug, and workboat customers – Tier III shipyards. Removing the human onboard element from the ship design means cost savings and reduced ship size for large-scale production. The reliability and capability of fully unmanned systems is intended to strengthen the nation’s defense industrial base.
Header Photo: WorkBoat
Design Image: DARPA Agency
DARPA is a U.S. Dept. of Defense agency focused on developing cutting-edge technologies for national security. DARPA collaborates with universities, industry, small businesses, and government partners to push the boundaries of science and technology.
