Zyvex Technologies announced that its Piranha USV, or unmanned surface vessel, has started a series of sea trials. The Piranha USV has a length of 54 feet and weighs less than 9,000 lbs. With a normal cruise speed of 25 knots (maximum cruising speed of over 45 knots) the Piranha is expected to offer on-station endurance of over 40 days.

 

The vessel is being developed with a number of missions in mind, including, search and rescue operations (SAR); anti piracy deployment; anti-submarine warfare (ASW); and other jobs as well.

 

The Piranha is built using Zyvex Technologies' Arovex carbon nanotube-reinforced carbon fiber prepreg. According to the firm, the lightweight Piranha offers 10 times the range, three times the payload, and a 75% increase in fuel efficiency compared to vessels built from heavier materials such as aluminium.

 

Click here to view a video showing the Piranha USV slicing through the waves of Puget Sound off the coast of Washington State. Trials are expected to last several months.