San Diego-based Seasats has unveiled its latest unmanned surface vehicle (USV), the Quickfish—a compact yet high-performance platform optimized for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations in contested maritime environments. Designed with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components and influenced by DARPA’s NOMARS program principles, Quickfish aims to deliver high-speed maneuverability and long endurance in a low-cost package.
Quickfish Design Philosophy: Minimalist Hull Meets Modular Payloads
The Quickfish USV is a 16-foot (approximately 4.9-meter) vessel featuring a catamaran-style hull optimized for stability at speed and payload flexibility. The design prioritizes simplicity and ruggedness over complexity—a principle inherited from Seasats’ earlier X3 model but significantly evolved to support more demanding missions.
According to Seasats CEO Mike Flanigan in an interview with Naval News (October 2025), the platform was developed to fill a capability gap between small ISR drones like the Saildrone Explorer and larger autonomous vessels such as the L3Harris MAST-13 or MARTAC’s Devil Ray T38. “Quickfish is fast enough to keep up with fleet movements while remaining small enough to be deployed from standard shipboard cranes or even RHIBs,” he noted.
The hull is constructed from corrosion-resistant composite materials suitable for extended saltwater exposure. Its modular payload bay allows integration of EO/IR cameras, radar systems (including small AESA arrays), AIS receivers/transponders, EW sensors, or acoustic payloads depending on mission requirements.
Performance Metrics: Speed Meets Endurance
Quickfish distinguishes itself through its unique performance envelope among sub-5-meter USVs:
- Top Speed: Over 40 knots
- Cruise Endurance: Up to 10 days at low speeds (~5–7 knots)
- Payload Capacity: ~45 kg (expandable via modular pods)
- Propulsion: Electric waterjets powered by lithium-ion battery banks with solar panel recharging
- C2 Link Options: SATCOM-capable; also supports Line-of-Sight RF links
This combination of high sprint speed and persistent loiter capability enables hybrid mission profiles—such as rapidly repositioning to intercept targets of interest before switching into silent surveillance mode.
DARPA NOMARS Influence: No Crew Means No Constraints
The Quickfish design draws heavily on lessons learned from DARPA’s No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) initiative. While NOMARS focused on large displacement vessels without any crew accommodations or legacy human interfaces, Seasats applied similar logic at the tactical level—removing unnecessary hatches, consoles, or access points that would otherwise compromise stealth or increase maintenance overhead.
This approach results in a sealed architecture that is inherently more survivable against saltwater intrusion and easier to maintain remotely. It also simplifies production logistics—Quickfish units can be built rapidly using COTS components sourced from both maritime and drone industries.
Missions & Use Cases: From ISR to Grey Zone Deterrence
The primary mission profile for Quickfish is maritime ISR—including port monitoring, choke point surveillance (e.g., Strait of Hormuz), fleet overwatch during amphibious operations, or persistent tracking of high-value targets such as illicit traffickers or uncrewed adversary platforms.
- Navy Applications: Littoral patrol augmentation; distributed maritime operations; EMCON-compliant recon nodes
- Coast Guard / Homeland Security: Harbor security; interdiction support; smuggling route detection
- Civilian / Dual Use: Offshore infrastructure monitoring; environmental data gathering; hydrographic surveys
The system’s low acoustic signature makes it suitable for operating in contested waters where traditional manned platforms would be at higher risk. Additionally, its affordability opens possibilities for mass deployment in swarming configurations—either autonomously coordinated or under remote supervision via mesh networking protocols.
COTS Integration Enables Rapid Iteration & Affordability
A key differentiator for Seasats’ approach lies in its aggressive use of commercial off-the-shelf hardware—from propulsion systems sourced from electric marine startups to onboard processors adapted from UAV avionics ecosystems. This not only drives down unit cost but allows rapid prototyping cycles based on user feedback.
The company claims it can deliver operational units within weeks rather than months—a critical advantage in dynamic theaters like the Indo-Pacific where capability gaps can emerge suddenly due to geopolitical shifts or adversary actions.
Status & Outlook: Field Trials Underway with U.S. Navy Stakeholders
The first batch of Quickfish prototypes has reportedly entered evaluation trials with U.S. Navy stakeholders under undisclosed programs likely related to Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) experimentation efforts led by NAVSEA’s Unmanned Maritime Systems Program Office (PMS-406).
No formal procurement contract has been announced as of October 2025, but Seasats is actively marketing the system through industry events including Sea-Air-Space Expo and Pacific Fleet Tech Bridge demonstrations. International interest has also emerged from Indo-Pacific navies seeking low-cost ISR augmentation tools amid growing regional tensions over EEZ enforcement and illegal fishing deterrence.
