39 foot 28 knot unmanned boat

We knew this was coming. The CUSV would be built in New Orleans.
"The boat is 39 feet long and can reach a top speed of 28 knots. Using a modified version of the unmanned Shadow surveillance aircraft technology that logged 700,000 hours of duty in the Middle East, the boat can be controlled remotely from 10 to 12 miles away from a command station on land, at sea or in the air, Hazlett said. Farther out, it can be switched to a satellite control system, which Textron said could expand its range to 1,200 miles. The boat could be launched from virtually any large Navy vessel."
http://www.newser.com/article/d9u3m...ll-dirty-dangerous-tasks-for-the-us-navy.html

 

Oh dear.... remote controlled murder has more tools...

 

Missions for it include "minesweeping, submarine detection, intelligence gathering and approaching hostile vessels" without putting crew at risk.
There are photos at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/12/cusv-navy_n_1422264.html#s866960

 

Not very impressive, as it would be relatively easy to spot optically. - - - I still contend the original posit I made will eventuate, as similar was said of the aerial reconnaissance drones (remote surveillance and observation)....

Operating in a slightly different mode, and with present fuel capacity, my boat has 400 hours 'cruise speed', duration and could cover 4000 miles in that time... Configured for remote control and no human accommodation, My boat, appropriately modified, would be almost invisible from most other surface craft... - 28 knots does not present a difficult target, and not readily identified in other guises as other than an innocent personal recreation craft...

Whereas the "Textron Inc." craft could be seen if, moving from the horizon... It appears to have the 'merits of a plough' and would likely leave a mark in some tropical doldrums region that could be seen from space hours after its passing - even at the resolutions available on google earth from a 20 mile eyeheight...

 

Not a good idea. Operating a small boat in the open ocean is a lot harder than an aerial drone. An easier to run into someone else, a reef, flotsam or get side swiped by a wave.

However a terrorist could build one and operate it easily and make it a giant floating bomb enough to sink a ship.

 

The Israelis have been using them for years.

http://www.rafael.co.il/marketing/SIP_STORAGE/FILES/8/938.pdf

The oil industry also uses them for rig protection.

 

Oh, that sounds so idyllic... But don't worry - it is just an understatement. The boat will be used for killing too, when needed. Just like aerial drones do. But, said in that way, it doesn't sound very nice in a popular magazine article - so you have to read it between the lines.

 

Photos were really nice. SO thanks for sharing it.