Russian-designed unmanned catamaran enters sea trials

Russia’s Admiral Nevelskoy Maritime State University (MSUN) has begun conducting sea trials of a new catamaran unmanned surface vehicle (USV).

The craft belongs to the Project MANS02 series. Its trials were conducted within MSUN’s testing facilities in Amur Bay just off Vladivostok.

The USV is being developed to serve as part of what MSUN called a “marine robotic triad.” Specifically, the USV will serve as a carrier vehicle for a payload-carrying unmanned underwater vehicle and an unmanned aerial vehicle.

A catamaran design was selected for the USV due to its increased stability, smoother ride, and the greater deck space made possible twin hulls.