M48 USV positioned as high-endurance solution for extended maritime missions
Magnet Defense has commenced production of its first deliverable M48 Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV), marking the transition from a proven prototype programme to full-scale manufacturing.
The M48 is designed for long-endurance, autonomous operations, offering a range of up to 17,000 nautical miles. The platform is capable of self-deployment from San Diego to the Arabian Gulf without refuelling or external support, positioning it among the longest-range USVs in its class.
According to the company, the vessel combines range, speed, payload capacity and open-ocean survivability at levels that distinguish it from competing platforms.
The M48 introduces a new category of medium-sized, combat-capable autonomous surface vessels, engineered for sustained operations in blue-water environments.
The M48 is built on the same hull, mechanical, and electrical systems as the Magnet Research Vessel, the prototype that has accumulated well over 1,000 days at sea and more than 40,000 nautical miles, including operations in extreme weather conditions since its launch in 2020.
Supporting a broad range of joint mission sets – including Integrated Air and Missile Defense, Long Range Kill Chains, Contested Logistics, Anti-Surface and Anti-Submarine Warfare, Electronic Warfare, and Search and Rescue – the M48 is designed to multiply the reach and effectiveness of the joint force without adding manpower or logistics burden to the fleet it supports. Each M48 will be delivered equipped with Magnet Defense’s proprietary DriveAI navigational autonomy suite.
“The M48 is not a conceptual system. It is a proven capability that has operated in the real world, in real conditions,” says Marc Bell, Chief Executive Officer of Magnet Defense. “Beginning production means warfighters and mission partners can soon access that capability.”
Magnet Defense is advancing its mission to deliver mission-ready maritime platforms that enable the joint force. With production now underway, the first M48 delivery is scheduled for the second quarter of calendar year 2027.
