Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has unveiled a new large autonomous surface vessel concept designed to support future naval operations involving both crewed and uncrewed platforms.
The concept, called LASV75, was presented at the Combined Naval Event (CNE) in Farnborough and reflects the company’s vision of a future “hybrid navy” in which traditional warships operate alongside autonomous escorts, drones, and other uncrewed systems.
Designed in the UK by Navantia’s Bristol-based team, the vessel is intended to perform missions independently or as part of larger naval task groups. The concept is built around a 246 foot (75-meter) modular hull displacing more than 1,000 tonnes and is configured from the outset as an uncrewed platform.
The vessel is expected to support roles including surveillance, escort missions, electronic warfare, and strike-related operations depending on payload configuration.
According to Navantia UK and statements made to Naval News, LASV75 was developed with an emphasis on persistence, modularity, and scalability, particularly for demanding operating environments such as the North Atlantic.
Speaking at CNE 2026, Navantia UK Product Development Director Simon Jones said the company believes a vessel of this size is needed to maintain credible long-endurance operations in harsh maritime conditions.
Unlike conventional ships, LASV75 eliminates crew accommodation and associated support systems, freeing space for mission payloads and increasing endurance. The displayed model featured a configurable payload deck, modular sensor arrangements, and interchangeable mast configurations.
Navantia UK is also exploring containerized “NavyPOD”-style mission packages and NATO-standard interfaces to improve interoperability with allied navies.
The company said the modular hull architecture of the uncrewed warship would allow multiple configurations, ranging from sensor-focused variants to operational systems or mixed-role layouts. This approach is intended to simplify manufacturing and enable faster adaptation for different mission requirements.
The autonomous vessel concept arrives amid broader investment efforts by Navantia UK following its acquisition of Harland & Wolff assets and modernization work across its four UK shipyards at Appledore, Arnish, Belfast, and Methil.
Navantia says it is investing £157 million into upgrades, including digital shipbuilding tools, automation systems, and advanced manufacturing infrastructure. The company expects these changes to reduce design and construction timelines for large naval vessels by up to 30 percent.
Manufacturing scalability was reportedly a major consideration during LASV75’s design process. According to Naval News, early production of the autonomous vessels would likely begin at Appledore in Devon, which can accommodate ships up to 393 feet (120 meters) in length.
The unveiling also comes as work continues on the UK’s £1.6 billion Fleet Solid Support program. Navantia UK cut first steel for the lead ship at Appledore in late 2025, while a dedicated 85-meter transport barge was launched from Methil earlier this year to support component movement between shipyards.
The LASV75 uncrewed warship concept is part of a broader pattern in global maritime defense of increasing integration of autonomous systems into fleets. Several navies, including the Royal Navy and U.S. Navy, have been increasing investments in large uncrewed surface vessels as part of future distributed naval operations and force expansion strategies.
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Kaif Shaikh is a journalist and writer passionate about turning complex information into clear, impactful stories. His writing covers technology, sustainability, geopolitics, and occasionally fiction. A graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, his work has appeared in the Times of India and beyond. After a near-fatal experience, Kaif began seeing both stories and silences differently. Outside work, he juggles far too many projects and passions, but always makes time to read, reflect, and hold onto the thread of wonder.
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