In late September, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt set off from San Diego heading toward the Middle East, but it was not alone. A 135-foot trimaran called Seahawk—built by Leidos and classified as an unmanned surface vessel (USV)—joined the strike group, creating the first U.S. Navy deployment that pairs a carrier with a large-size drone ship.
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao announced the milestone at the Association of the United States Army conference, emphasizing that the addition of an unmanned surface vessel represents a “force multiplier” for the fleet. The move reflects a broader Pentagon strategy to blend multibillion-dollar warships with cheaper, attritable systems that can perform a variety of roles without putting sailors at risk.
What is Seahawk and how does it differ from earlier sea drones?
Seahawk measures roughly 135 feet in length, a trimaran hull that offers stability in rough seas. Fully loaded, it displaces about 145 long tons (approximately 325,000 pounds) and carries 14,000 gallons of diesel fuel for its twin engines. By contrast, many of the “speed-boat” style drones used in recent conflicts—such as those deployed by Ukraine in the Black Sea—are much smaller, lack long-range endurance, and typically carry only explosives.
Unlike those smaller craft, Seahawk is designed to operate for months without a mechanic on board. Its internal systems are engineered for minimal human intervention, and the vessel can be refueled at sea, as demonstrated when the fleet oiler USNS Guadalupe transferred fuel to it off Southern California. The USV integrates directly into the strike group’s command network, navigating autonomously, switching to backup communications if the primary link fails, and even maintaining course without GPS if signals are jammed.
How the unmanned vessel fits into the carrier strike group
The Theodore Roosevelt’s escort fleet includes the cruiser USS Chosin and the destroyers USS Paul Hamilton and USS Decatur. Together these ships protect the carrier from aerial, surface, and subsurface threats. Seahawk’s primary mission is to act as a distributed sensor platform: it can push the group’s maritime picture farther out, conduct anti-submarine warfare (ASW) patrols, and relay intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data back to the command node.
While the USV is not armed with missiles or guns, its ability to carry non-kinetic payloads—such as electronic-jamming equipment, sonar arrays, and additional sensors—means it can enhance the strike group’s defensive envelope. Navy officials have indicated that larger USVs could eventually host lethal payloads, but for now Seahawk’s role is to extend situational awareness and free up manned ships for higher-risk tasks.
Deploying Seahawk alongside a carrier signals a shift in how the U.S. Navy envisions future surface warfare. By pairing a traditional capital ship with autonomous platforms, the service can field a more flexible and resilient force. The integration was not rushed; Seahawk participated in the final exercises of the strike group—COMPTUEX in April and the RIMPAC drills later in the summer—proving it can keep pace with the fleet’s high-speed maneuvers.
Looking ahead, the Navy plans to field additional medium-size USVs capable of carrying offensive weapons, mirroring trends seen among NATO allies. As autonomous technology matures, we may see these drone ships used for logistics, underway replenishment, and even as forward-deployed “shadow” assets that can respond to threats without exposing crewed vessels. For now, the historic Pacific crossing of the Roosevelt and Seahawk offers a real-world testbed for a concept that could reshape naval power projection for decades to come.
