During BALTOPS 2026, sailors from Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadron 3 Division 32 oversaw BlackSea Technologies’ GARC unmanned surface vessel as it navigated a charted course during a live‑fire exercise near Gdynia, Poland. Operating from the Navy’s Unmanned Operations Center, the team coordinated with German and Finnish warships as part of NATO’s premier Baltic Sea training event. The demonstration highlighted the GARC’s growing operational role in distributed maritime exercises and showcased how autonomous systems are being integrated into allied live‑fire drills that strengthen combined maritime security and freedom of navigation in the region.

During BALTOPS 2026, U.S. Navy personnel from Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadron 3 Division 32 remotely operated BlackSea Technologies’ GARC unmanned surface vessels during a swarm exercise off the coast of Ustka, Poland. Navy imagery shows sailors controlling the craft as they maneuver from the Stupia River into the Baltic Sea, demonstrating distributed unmanned operations in one of NATO’s premier annual maritime exercises. The event underscores the GARC platform’s growing role in real‑world fleet training and highlights how autonomous surface systems are being integrated to support freedom of navigation and combined maritime security in the Baltic region.

U.S. Navy imagery from BALTOPS 2026 shows Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft operated by Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadron 3 idling in the Stupia River before heading into the Baltic Sea for a swarm exercise. The demonstration highlights how BlackSea Technologies’ GARC platforms are being used in one of NATO’s most important annual maritime exercises to strengthen interoperability and freedom of navigation in the region. Operating alongside allied forces, the small autonomous vessels support distributed maritime operations and reflect the growing role of unmanned systems in NATO readiness and training.

BlackSea Technologies is showcasing its high‑speed Comet unmanned surface vessel at SOF Week 2026, bringing the combat‑ready platform to the Tampa Convention Center waterfront. The 13.1‑meter vessel can exceed 45 knots, carry a 10,000‑pound payload, and supports a wide range of missions including counter‑UAS, mine countermeasures, surface warfare, antisubmarine warfare, and electronic warfare. Designed to bridge the gap between small tactical USVs and larger unmanned combat craft, Comet features advanced sensors, weapons, and survivability enhancements from partners across industry. BlackSea says the platform gives special operations forces a fast, adaptable unmanned option for today’s contested maritime environments.

U.S. Navy expeditionary forces are operating in the High North with Norway from May 4 to 24, 2026, to deploy and test advanced robotics and autonomous systems in one of the world’s most austere maritime environments. The bilateral exercise in Ramsund validates defensive missions including mine countermeasures, protection of undersea infrastructure, and maritime domain awareness and ISR. Commander, Task Force 66 and Commander, Task Force 68 are employing a suite of USVs and UUVs, including high‑speed GARC and long‑endurance Lightfish platforms, while integrating cold‑weather procedures with Norwegian forces. The effort strengthens Arctic security and accelerates unmanned integration across the fleet.

A U.S. autonomous surface vessel operated north of the Arctic Circle during Arctic Sentry 2026, as BlackSea Technologies demonstrated its GARC platform alongside U.S. 6th Fleet, USVRON‑3, and the Royal Norwegian Navy. The exercise gave the GARC a chance to operate in demanding cold‑weather conditions rarely replicated in standard trials, including ice, unpredictable sea states, and challenging communications. U.S. Navy imagery showed the craft performing in Breivika Bay as part of NATO’s broader effort to strengthen its posture in the High North. The event underscored the value of small autonomous vessels for surveillance, sensing, and distributed operations in contested regions.

BlackSea Technologies demonstrated its GARC unmanned surface vessels during Arctic Sentry 2026, operating alongside U.S. 6th Fleet, USVRON‑3, and the Royal Norwegian Navy in Ramsund, Norway. The exercise allowed the GARC platform to prove its autonomous performance in cold‑weather, high‑latitude conditions while supporting NATO’s multi‑domain vigilance efforts in the High North. Imagery released by the Navy showed GARC units operating in Breivika Bay as part of a broader push to strengthen allied maritime security. The event underscored the value of small, scalable autonomous vessels for distributed operations, interoperability, and training in demanding environments.

Jet Logistics and Blue Tide Aviation have launched a new cargo and COMBI transport service connecting Florida, The Bahamas, and the wider Caribbean. The expansion uses Blue Tide’s C‑23 Sherpa aircraft, known for its short takeoff and landing performance and ability to operate from unimproved runways. Jet Logistics brings an accredited Part 135 platform and long‑standing regional experience, while Blue Tide contributes deep expertise in remote logistics, AOG support, government missions, and disaster response. Together, the partnership aims to deliver faster, more flexible air cargo solutions across key inter‑island routes and direct lift to and from the United States.

U.S. Sixth Fleet expanded its use of unmanned surface vessels during Exercise Obangame Express 2026, integrating Lightfish and GARC platforms to demonstrate rapid, layered maritime security operations in the Gulf of Guinea. Shoreside operators used Lightfish systems to detect simulated threats, while high‑speed GARC vessels were deployed to intercept targets, showcasing a fast‑response unmanned capability that requires minimal infrastructure. The exercise highlighted how USVs can extend awareness, protect critical waterways, and project power into contested regions within hours. The event also strengthened collaboration between U.S., Cameroonian, and partner‑nation forces focused on regional maritime security.

A Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft, attached to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 66, operates in Breivika Bay during Arctic Sentry 2026. Launched in February 2026, Arctic Sentry reflects Allies’ collective understanding that NATO must do even more as an alliance to ensure security in the Arctic and the High North, and to further strengthen its ability to operate in the region.