The US Navy’s Stiletto Program has successfully demonstrated an autonomous launch and recovery system for small boats, marking a pivotal advancement in maritime technology and operational efficiency.
US Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division’s Joint Prototyping and Experimentation Maritime (JPEM) Stiletto Program carried out the successful demonstration of Sealartec's autonomous launch and recovery system in June in Norfolk, Virginia.
Sealartec, is an Israeli company founded in 2018 and based in Haifa that specializes in Autonomous Launch and Recovery Systems (ALRS) designed for both manned and unmanned surface vessels using a patented bow-capture system. The autonomous solution uses local positioning, onboard sensors, and smart algorithms to locate, identify, and physically connect with returning USVs in even challenging sea conditions.
The company has collaborated with major industry players such as BAE Systems, Elbit Systems, and Israel Aerospace Industries.
Maritime autonomy is increasingly vital to modern naval and commercial operations and autonomous systems reduce human exposure to hazardous environments, optimize fuel and route efficiency, and enable persistent operations without fatigue. These capabilities are especially critical in contested or remote waters where human presence is risky or impractical.
Two decades of innovation
The Navy’s Stiletto vessel, managed by the Combatant Craft Division, serves as a modular testbed for emerging maritime technologies. Built by Knight & Carver Yacht Center, the US Department of Defense and M Ship Company announced the launch of the M80 Stiletto in 2006.
With its catamaran hull design, it has a low radar profile that makes it more challenging to track.
It has a maximum gross weight of 67 tons, is 88 feet long and has a 40-foot beam and a rectangular deck area. It can carry up to three crew, 30 SEALs, and equipment as well as the ability to deploy ISR and surveillance assets.
Everything on the Stiletto is interchangeable to maintain, modernize, and sustain innovative maritime platforms.
In 2021, the M80 Stiletto in partnership with Australia’s DroneShield Drone Sentry, successfully disrupted drone swarms during its trials using DroneSentry X. Its flexible design allows for rapid integration and testing of new systems, such as SEALARTEC’s ALRS.
"What we are asking the driver to do is just come to the stern of the ship [and] match the speed, SEALARTEC CEO Amitai Peleg was quoted as saying. "We do all the rest. We are controlling the entire process. The capture is autonomous, and the activation of the capture is autonomous.”
From concept to sea trial in months
According to an announcement on the Naval Sea Systems Command website, Stiletto program officials met with the SEALARTEC team at a maritime symposium in Portsmouth, Virginia, about a year ago, and quickly identified the potential of their technology.
The collaboration moved from concept to sea trial in just a few months, demonstrating the program’s agility and commitment to innovation. Program Manager Dennis Danko emphasized the team’s proactive approach, stating that they are always seeking the next breakthrough and finding ways to bring it to life on the water.
“It’s a program where we use the craft “Stiletto” to install and integrate technologies that may meet warfighter goals, gaps, or needs”, said Danko, the Stiletto Program Manager.
Scott Sampson, Senior Craft Design Manager for the CCD, echoed Danko, saying that “because of this modularity, the Stiletto will always stay up to date, because we are able to plug and play the most relevant technology and keep us ready for the future.”
This demonstration not only validated SEALARTEC’s technology but also underscored the strategic importance of platforms like Stiletto in accelerating the adoption of maritime autonomy. As navies around the globe continue to prioritize safety, adaptability, and technological superiority, initiatives like this pave the way for a smarter and more resilient maritime future.