US Navy Port Protection

Blackfish
(Naples, Italy) The US Navy has completed testing of unmanned water craft designed as remotely-operated port security vessels.

The 10-foot-long “Blackfish” recently underwent tests by the Office of Naval Research, spokesman Peter Vietti said. The prototype was developed by defense company QinetiQ and consists of a commercially available water craft, such as a jet ski, that is equipped with sonar, scanners and cameras.

It can patrol an area on its own, or be remotely controlled by a sailor, according to Mark Hewitt, a senior vice president for QinetiQ North America.

The primary function of the Blackfish is to patrol port facilities to identify potential threats to warships.