US-based Eureka Naval Craft, in collaboration with Australia’s Greenroom Robotics, is poised to reveal a new autonomous naval attack vessel.
The unveiling is scheduled for the upcoming Sea Air and Space Exhibition in Maryland, US, from 6-9 April 2025.
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Dubbed AIRCAT Bengal module carrier (MC), the 36 metre (m) surface effect ship (SES) is the product of a joint development effort between Eureka and ESNA Naval Architects, with autonomy and AI software supplied by Greenroom.
Eureka Naval Craft CEO Bo Jardine highlighted the vessel’s capabilities, including its ability to carry a 40-tonne payload at speeds exceeding 50 knots, with a range of 1,000 nautical miles, depending on the payload.
He said: “This is a high-speed, hightech ship able to operate crewed and uncrewed. It is further bristling with lethality and can launch Tomahawk cruise missiles and anti-ship naval strike missiles (NSM). This ‘force projection’ capability is very important as it de-risks the reliance on much bigger, more expensive crewed warships to fire missiles.”
Additionally, the vessel will have a lower construction cost, noted Jardine. It can serve in various roles, including troop transport, landing support, electronic warfare, drone operations, and mine warfare.
He also confirmed that the AIRCAT Bengal MC will be marketed to the US Navy, US Marine Corps, and allied navies, including members of AUKUS and Nato, as well as nations such as Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam .
Greenroom Robotics CEO James Keane said that the vessel features autonomous navigation system and software tools designed to augment human capabilities throughout operational phases.
Keane said: “The AIRCAT Bengal MC will benefit from the proven Greenroom Advanced Maritime Autonomy (GAMA) Software system Greenroom have spent years developing and had validated on a 57m decommissioned Armidale-class patrol boat, Sentinel, known as the Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial (PBAT).”
The AIRCAT Bengal MC will expand Eureka’s fleet of AIRCAT vessels, which includes the Bengal, Lynx, Jaguar, and Panther models, each tailored for specific missions.
These vessels are designed with modularity in mind, allowing clients to customise based on operational requirements.
In September l2024, Greenroom Robotics and Austal Australia entered into a Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) to focus on collaborative efforts in the watercraft sector.
The SPA aims to develop boat products, services, and technologies that enhance safety, reduce crewing requirements, and enable remote and autonomous operation of vessels produced by Austal Australia.
