Scientific Systems has introduced its new Vehicle for Expeditionary Naval Over-the-Horizon Missions (VENOM), a small unmanned surface vehicle (sUSV) designed to enhance the U.S. Navy’s ability to conduct rapid intercept missions and protect maritime assets in contested environments.
According to the company, VENOM has successfully demonstrated its performance during sea trials and is now available for procurement by the Department of Defense and other government agencies.
The 9-meter sUSV features a rugged high-density polyethylene (HDPE) hull and is powered by a 300-horsepower outboard diesel engine. It delivers a sprint speed of over 35 knots, a range of more than 500 nautical miles at 24 knots in moderate sea states, and can loiter in an assigned area for up to 130 hours, surpassing key operational requirements identified by the Navy.
In a statement, Scientific Systems said VENOM has proven its ability to autonomously transit through contested water space, avoid static and moving obstacles, loiter in a designated area while monitoring maritime threats, and sprint to interdict noncooperative, maneuvering vessels. The platform is designed for missions ranging from force protection to persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), contested logistics, and maritime patrols.
“Scientific Systems was honored to work with partners to successfully test and qualify our production-ready, low-cost, autonomous VENOM interceptor that can travel hundreds of miles through contested water space,” said Kunal Mehra, CEO of Scientific Systems. “The fact that Scientific Systems is leading a team of partners for this vehicle underscores the reality that the future of warfare is software-driven. We are proud to continue to develop the type of cutting-edge autonomous solutions the U.S. Navy needs to confront a new generation of threats at sea.”
The vehicle was developed in partnership with Tideman Marine and Sea Machines, combining advanced autonomy software with robust hull design and propulsion systems. Tideman Marine, described by Scientific Systems as “the world leader in welded HDPE vessel construction,” provided expertise to ensure exceptional durability and resistance to hull fouling.
Scientific Systems emphasized that VENOM is built to support large-scale unmanned operations. Its software-centric design allows for mission-level collaboration among multiple autonomous vessels, aligning with the Navy’s future vision for distributed maritime operations.
As noted by the company, “VENOM’s architecture enables collaborative behaviors across fleets of autonomous vessels, providing a cost-effective and scalable solution for the Navy’s evolving operational needs.”
The company added that with manufacturing readiness secured, it is prepared to rapidly scale delivery to meet anticipated Department of Defense requirements.