Role & capabilities
- Maritime security patrol
- Remote vessel communication
- Autonomous navigation with human mission supervision
- Primary domain
- Sea surface
- System type
- Uncrewed surface vessel
- Developer / manufacturer
- DSTA / DSO / ST Engineering / Republic of Singapore Navy programme
- Origin / production countries
- Singapore
- Other names
- Maritime Security Unmanned Surface Vessel; MARSEC-USV
- Variants / configurations
- Republic of Singapore Navy maritime-security configuration
- Operators / programme customers
- Republic of Singapore Navy
Evidence & current status
Status is supported by an operator statement. Autonomous navigation does not mean every mission decision or onboard system operates without human supervision.
The Republic of Singapore Navy's MARSEC USV is a purpose-developed maritime-security vessel intended to work alongside crewed ships in busy national waters. Singapore's defence ministry states that operational patrols began in January 2025 after an extensive testing programme. DSTA identifies the Navy, DSO National Laboratories and ST Engineering as the development partners.
Its autonomy is carefully defined by the operator. Navigation can be autonomous, while mission functions such as audio warnings remain under remote human control. The two-person operating team is ashore or at a remote station for uncrewed operations; it should not be described as a two-person onboard crew.
The published specification includes navigation radar, positioning equipment and devices for communicating with other vessels. These support a maritime-security role rather than simply an experimental autonomy demonstration. Related Singapore mine-countermeasure USV programmes have different payloads and procurement histories, so their figures and readiness should not be merged into this profile. The record follows the Navy's MARSEC designation without assuming every commercial VENUS-branded design is the same configuration.
Sourced specifications
Figures apply to the named configuration. Maximum values are not guaranteed operating performance.
| Specification | Reported value | Context & source |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration | Uncrewed patrol vessel with autonomous navigation | Operator-defined configuration. Source ↗ |
| Hull / propulsion | Not established in the reviewed public sources. | Public data gap; no estimate or neighbouring variant value substituted. Source ↗ |
| Dimensions | 16.9 m length; 5.2 m beam | Supplier-published figure; configuration and operating conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Displacement / mass | 30 tonnes | Supplier-published figure; configuration and operating conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Payload | Searchlight, warning and acoustic communication equipment; configurable security systems | Listed equipment, not a mass allowance. Source ↗ |
| Endurance | More than 36 hours | Supplier-published figure; configuration and operating conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Range | Not established in the reviewed public sources. | Public data gap; no estimate or neighbouring variant value substituted. Source ↗ |
| Speed | More than 25 knots | Supplier-published figure; configuration and operating conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Sea state / environment | Not established in the reviewed public sources. | Public data gap; no estimate or neighbouring variant value substituted. Source ↗ |
| Sensors | Navigation radar and GPS; maritime-security mission equipment | Supplier-published figure; configuration and operating conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Communications / control | Two remote operators; autonomous navigation with remotely controlled mission functions | Remote operators are not an onboard crew. Source ↗ |
| Launch / deployment | Not established in the reviewed public sources. | Public data gap; no estimate or neighbouring variant value substituted. Source ↗ |
Documented milestones
Operational patrols confirmed
The defence ministry stated that MARSEC USVs had begun patrols in January 2025.
Read the announcement ↗
Publication history
- — Added sourced land and maritime coverage with domain-specific evidence and limitations.
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Follow the evidence
Source types identify who makes the claim. Programme milestones and supplier statements should be read in context.
- Singapore defence ministry operationalisation fact sheet, 4 February 2025 (opens in a new tab)Government / operator
- DSTA programme and development partners (opens in a new tab)Government / developer