Source-linked news, original analysis and approved development briefs across unmanned systems. Original event dates, publication dates and evidence limits remain distinct.
Farada Group and Łukasiewicz–Warsaw Institute of Technology signed a cooperation agreement on May 7 at Defence24 Days concerning commercialization and foreign-market sales of the Manta USV. The parties will develop a commercialization model and assess possible sales and distribution structures outside Poland.
USV · Poland
Original event: 7 May 2026
By Avantika Kapoor
NCBR announced on May 29 that TROJAN had been selected for funding within the PERUN defense R&D program. TROJAN is led by the Polish Naval Academy and will develop an unmanned surface platform able to carry airborne and underwater sensors for monitoring threats to critical maritime infrastructure.
USV · Poland
Original event: 29 May 2026
By Avantika Kapoor
PFR's IDA Bootcamp 2026 Challenge 4 sought a modular system able to convert conventional surface vessels for remotely controlled or autonomous operation for JW Formoza. The challenge is materially distinct from the purpose-built autonomous-platform requirements elsewhere in the program because it focuses on conversion of existing craft.
USV · Poland
Original event: 16 Jun 2026
By Avantika Kapoor
PFR's IDA Bootcamp 2026 Challenge 6 set a separate requirement for a low-profile modular unmanned surface vessel for JW Formoza. Public program material describes a composite-hull platform of up to roughly 1,000 kg for reconnaissance, transport and strike-support roles with high-speed performance requirements.
USV · Poland
Original event: 16 Jun 2026
By Avantika Kapoor
WB GROUP and Saab signed an industrial cooperation agreement in Gdynia on June 29, 2026 covering unmanned reconnaissance and strike capabilities within a broader C4ISR UxS framework. Surface-unmanned systems are relevant to the cooperation, but the announcement does not identify a specific USV procurement, customer order or platform quantity.
USV · Poland
Original event: 29 Jun 2026
By Avantika Kapoor
NCBR announced on July 23, 2026 that funding agreements had been signed for PERUN projects including TROJAN. The Polish Naval Academy-led project will develop an unmanned surface platform capable of carrying airborne and underwater sensors for monitoring and warning against threats to critical maritime infrastructure.
USV · Poland
Original event: 23 Jul 2026
By Avantika Kapoor
Saildrone announced an expanded European production and operations footprint on August 18, including Polish industrial work supporting Surveyor USV wing structures through Southern Spars. The development establishes a Poland-linked manufacturing role in Saildrone's European supply chain for systems serving government, defense and security customers.
USV · Poland
Original event: 18 Aug 2026
By Avantika Kapoor
ATLA contracted Sumisho Aero-Systems on January 8, 2026 for the Type I Small Multi-Purpose USV concept demonstration. The published contract value was JPY 312.4 million and the procurement quantity was one service set. The number of physical USVs and detailed delivery schedule were not publicly disclosed, so one service set is not converted into one vessel.
USV · Japan
Original event: 8 Jan 2026
By Avantika Kapoor
ATLA's Naval Systems Research Center opened a January 14 public offering for inspection and maintenance work on a sea-trial support unmanned surface vessel. The requirement concerns lifecycle support for an existing experimental/test asset rather than acquisition of a new operational USV.
USV · Japan
Original event: 14 Jan 2026
By Avantika Kapoor
ATLA's Naval Systems Research Center issued a separate public offering for experimental-operation support involving a USV test article. The scope is distinct from the January 14 inspection-and-maintenance requirement because it supports operation of a test article during experimentation. No contractor, award value or physical USV quantity was validated.
USV · Japan
Original event: 19 Jan 2026
By Avantika Kapoor
The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force published a January 26 procurement notice for maintenance of a self-propelled surface target system used in training and weapons-test support. The system is an unmanned surface target and therefore qualifies as a defense-USV lifecycle-support activity. It should not be classified as procurement of an operational combat USV.
USV · Japan
Original event: 26 Jan 2026
By Avantika Kapoor
ATLA contracted JMU Defense Systems to prepare technical data for the Small Multi-Purpose USV warhead element. The official disclosure gives a January 27 contract date and JPY 32.01 million value after the competitive procedure did not produce a winning bid.
USV · Japan
Original event: 27 Jan 2026
By Avantika Kapoor
ATLA contracted JMU Defense Systems on February 13, 2026 for the Type II Small Multi-Purpose USV concept demonstration. The published contract value was JPY 550 million and the procurement quantity was one service set. The physical USV quantity is not disclosed and is therefore not inferred from the service-set count.
USV · Japan
Original event: 13 Feb 2026
By Avantika Kapoor
ATLA awarded Mitsubishi Heavy Industries a February 20, 2026 study contract concerning underwater defensive measures for unmanned surface vessels. The published amount was JPY 22.6589 million. The activity is an R&D/study contract and should not be treated as acquisition of defensive hardware or an operational USV.
USV · Japan
Original event: 20 Feb 2026
By Avantika Kapoor
ATLA contracted Sojitz Aerospace for support to a second ship-launched Improved Type 12 surface-to-ship missile firing test. The USV relevance comes from the self-propelled unmanned surface target used to support the firing-test activity. This row is classified as target/test support rather than combat-USV development or procurement.
USV · Japan
Original event: 2 Mar 2026
By Avantika Kapoor
Japanese partners announced collaboration under RISE on March 10, 2026 to develop coordinated control of aerial and surface unmanned systems. The work targets multi-domain swarm and autonomy technology relevant to maritime surveillance and defense applications. It is an R&D/technology collaboration and not a government procurement award.
USV · Japan
Original event: 10 Mar 2026
By Avantika Kapoor
Terra Drone announced a strategic entry into the defense-equipment market on March 23, 2026 and identified unmanned maritime systems as part of its defense growth strategy. The company positioned its USV capabilities for domestic and overseas defense and security opportunities.
USV · Japan
Original event: 23 Mar 2026
By Avantika Kapoor
JMSDF procurement material covers FY2026-FY2028 software and related maintenance for the Unmanned Mine Disposal System architecture. JMU documentation confirms that UMDS includes a surface-USV component alongside other mine-countermeasure systems.
USV · Japan
Original event: 30 Mar 2026
By Avantika Kapoor