The U.S. Marine Corps has deployed unmanned surface vessels (USV) to Japan as part of a larger push to bring unmanned logistics systems to the Indo-Pacific. The USVs, developed by Leidos, are capable of supplying distributed forces in contested environments by leveraging a design similar to narco-subs, Naval News reports.
Naval News had the opportunity to break down exactly what the USVs are offering during an exclusive interview with Jeff Holmes of Leidos at the Navy League’s Sea Air Space 2025 conference in Oxon Hill, Maryland.
Leidos had two USVs on display on the show floor. The Autonomous Low-Profile Vessel (ALPV), also known as Sea Specter, and the Small Unmanned Surface Vehicle (SUAV), also known as Sea Archer, an internally developed USV designed for high speeds. Both are being offered as logistics platforms for contested environments, taking two opposite approaches to maneuvering under fire.
According to Holmes, the Sea Specter is a ‘low and slow’ vessel. It is designed from the ground up to be difficult to spot both visually and on radar. Sea Specter can make a trip from Guam to anywhere in the first island chain on one tank of gas. Sea Archer, on the other hand, is a high speed vessel that can sit higher up on the water. Leidos is still working to integrate full autonomy onto Sea Archer, with demonstrations expected this year.
Both USVs are in late stage trials, with the Sea Specter (AUSV) in early operational use with the U.S. Marine Corps in the Indo-Pacific. There are two AUSVs deployed in the U.S. Marine Corps today, one in the Pacific and one in the Atlantic. Holmes emphasized the utility of both AUSVs during the interview.
The smaller and faster platform, Sea Archer, has completed all builder’s trials and is now in late stage testing of autonomous systems. According to Holmes, Leidos is interested in adding mission modules to add lethality to each USV. Testing of an enhanced lethality payload on the Sea Archer is planned for this summer.
Current Status of Deployed AUSVs
One prototype AUSV, ’65LP2202′, has been in testing since January 2024 when it sailed from Norfolk, Virginia to San Diego, California for preliminary testing. Combat Logistics Battalion 12, 3d Marine Logistics Group, based in California, received training on the system in June of the same year, prior to its transfer to Japan.
It was delivered to Okinawa-based Combat Logistics Battalion 31 of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in October 2024. The 12th Littoral Logistics Battalion received familiarization training on the vessel in January 2025. The first operational tests of the AUSV were conducted in early April.
Another prototype AUSV, ’65LP2201′, was first used in familiarization training at Camp Lejeune in April with 2nd Distribution Support Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group.
A third prototype is set to be delivered by the end of the month, according to Holmes.
