Magnet Defense Unveils AI-Enabled M48 Autonomous Maritime Vessel

December 16, 2025
Magnet Defense LLC has introduced the M48, an AI-powered unmanned surface vessel designed for long-range, autonomous maritime operations. The vessel has completed over 32,000 nautical miles and 390 days at sea during testing.

Magnet Defense LLC has unveiled its first autonomous unmanned surface vessel (USV), the M48, following more than two years of development, announced in a press release. The company invested over $50 million in the design, construction, and validation of the AI-enabled platform, which has already completed 32,000 nautical miles and 390 days of sea trials.

The M48 features modular sensor suites, advanced autonomy, and a stable geometry for extended operations in harsh maritime environments. It is capable of fully autonomous missions in high-risk zones, supporting roles such as surveillance, electronic warfare, missile defense, logistics, and anti-submarine operations.

The vessel integrates machine learning, edge processing, and multi-sensor fusion for rapid threat recognition and automated weapon pairing, while maintaining operator oversight. Magnet Defense designed the M48 to sustain long unattended missions with minimal maintenance and quick turnaround times, positioning it as a high-endurance solution for maritime defense applications.

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