This Marine Corps Autonomous USV Can Hunt Mines for 14 Hours Without a Crew

At Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps EOD teams field-tested a new Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) built to detect and neutralize explosive threats in littoral waters, from the shallows to the beach zone. It's the fourth increment of the LEON system, using sonar, FLIR cameras, and acoustic comms to scan below the surface and relay real-time hazard data to help map safe routes. "These systems can be launched and left to conduct a mission for upwards of 14 hours covering large areas of the littorals, while requiring minimal manpower to monitor," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Alfredo Andrade, EOD Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion. The two-week evaluation moved from calm-water testing to wide-area searches across the Pacific Coast, with fielding to EOD companies set to begin in fiscal year 2027.