A new type of attack boat with modular capability is being built for the US Navy. Named Modular Attack Surface Craft (MASC), the vessel is expected to carry more than 67,000 pounds (28,122 kilograms) of payload, which is double the capacity of comparable craft.
BlackSea Technologies’ boat will include 198 kWe electrical power to support advanced sensors and weapon systems.
The vessel offers 3,000 nm range at 10 knots and extended self-deploying range of 10,000 nm.
Extended operational flexibility, equipped with Anti-Submarine Warfare
Unlike retrofitted commercial hulls, BlackSea’s MASC USV was designed from the keel up to maximize payload access, capacity, and operational flexibility.
With twice the payload area and electrical power of similar-sized vessels, the platform supports seven mission profiles out of the box: Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), Electronic Warfare/ISR, Logistics, Infrastructure Monitoring, Strike, and Mine Warfare (MCM/MIW).
“Our approach starts with the mission, not the platform,” said Todd Greene, Deputy Director of Advanced Technology at BlackSea. “We designed a flexible, modular combatant that can evolve with the Fleet and be built at scale today, not years from now.”
Integrated propulsion units will power the vessel
The hull form, derived from BlackSea’s operational GARC platform, uses slender twin aluminum hulls for low drag and high stability—enabling safe launch and recovery of containerized payloads. Marine-grade aluminum construction aligns with existing shipyard skillsets, according to a press release.
Dual Volvo Penta D8-IPS600 integrated propulsion units will power the vessel. The system eliminates shaft alignment during assembly and is supported by a global logistics network. The open architecture is built natively on the Navy’s Unmanned Maritime Autonomy Architecture (UMAA), enabling plug-and-play autonomy integration and preventing vendor lock-in.
The US Navy’s MASC program consolidates the goals of its earlier Large and Medium USV initiatives, seeking modular, containerized surface combatants to distribute lethality across the fleet.
Proven autonomy systems integrated
By combining proven autonomy systems, fielded production methods, and a design tailored to naval missions, BlackSea’s MASC USV offers the Navy a decisive advantage in speed to fleet, operational flexibility, and long-term scalability.
“Fleet modernization demands bold steps,” said Chris Devine, CEO of BlackSea. “With our MASC solution, the Navy can field a family of unmanned combatants that are mission-driven, production-ready, and built to scale.”
Proven Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) production line being used
The company is leveraging its proven Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) production line to produce one craft per day at BlackSea’s Baltimore facility.
BlackSea is prepared to build and deliver the first fully integrated MASC prototype within six months.
The vessel’s design shares major subsystem components with BlackSea’s fielded GARC systems, ensuring supply chain resilience and rapid integration of existing autonomy, command-and-control, and perception subsystems.