Red Cat, a US-based provider of advanced all-domain drone and robotic solutions for defense and national security, has introduced its B-Series portfolio of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) through its Blue Ops maritime division.
The B-Series establishes a unified naming convention for Blue Ops’ growing family of U.S.-designed and built autonomous maritime systems, with designations reflecting vessel length in feet, which is the traditional American methodology for naval and commercial shipbuilding. Building on its flagship B-26, Blue Ops is expanding its portfolio to support tactical reconnaissance, one-way attack, persistent maritime defense and logistics missions.
The portfolio includes the B-26 (formerly Variant 7); the B-18, an 18-foot USV designed for tactical and one-way attack missions; and the B-39, a 39-foot vessel already in low-rate production.
Developed with US Navy requirements in mind, including deployment from littoral combat ships, the B-18 is designed for tactical reconnaissance, shipboard launch and recovery, and one-way attack missions, according to the company.
With its modular architecture, flexible payload integration and advanced autonomous capabilities, the B-39 is designed to support persistent maritime surveillance, integrated defense systems and extended operations in demanding naval environments.
“The Navy doesn't need examples of what autonomous vessels might deliver years from now. It needs affordable, reliable systems that perform in real-world conditions and are available today,” said Barry Hinckley, President of Blue Ops.
“That's exactly what we're building at Blue Ops. From one-way attack and tactical reconnaissance to maritime defense and logistics, our B-Series vessels are designed to meet immediate operational needs. Combined with Red Cat's aerial assets, we're delivering a complete family of systems that gives U.S. and allied forces the capabilities and flexibility to operate across air and sea.”
Since Red Cat launched Blue Ops in 2025, the division has expanded its U.S. manufacturing capabilities in Valdosta, Georgia, advanced the B-26 into full-rate production and accelerated the availability of additional maritime platforms.
Together with Red Cat's aerial portfolio, the B-Series is expected to strengthen the company's ability to deliver domestically manufactured autonomous systems for modern multi-domain operations.