Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
During a week at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Port Hueneme, CA, the NOMARS team continued to validate the capabilities of the USX-1 Defiant. Among other achievements, the team successfully demonstrated at-sea fueling (using water instead of fuel for the demo) without anyone aboard the Defiant. The team also tested high speed turns and pushed the ship's straight-line speed close to 20 knots. Defiant also achieved multiple successful dockings/undockings and harbor entries/exits using its autonomy system.
NBVC Port Hueneme is the center of the U.S. Navy’s unmanned operations. Sailors from Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadron (USVRON) One, based at NBVC, have been engaged in Defiant’s sea trials to experience up-close and hands-on the capabilities of the first-of-its-kind USV.
The demonstration mirrored standard refueling concept of operations (CONOPS) as closely as possible, including passing the lead-line to the refueling side, passing and connecting the refueling probe to the Defiant, and pumping water – all without anyone ever aboard the Defiant. With this round of capability testing complete, Defiant is back out to sea to continue its extended demonstration of reliability and endurance.
https://www.darpa.mil/news/features/nomars
During a week at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Port Hueneme, CA, the NOMARS team continued to validate the capabilities of the USX-1 Defiant. Among other achievements, the team successfully demonstrated at-sea fueling (using water instead of fuel for the demo) without anyone aboard the Defiant. The team also tested high speed turns and pushed the ship's straight-line speed close to 20 knots. Defiant also achieved multiple successful dockings/undockings and harbor entries/exits using its autonomy system.
NBVC Port Hueneme is the center of the U.S. Navy’s unmanned operations. Sailors from Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadron (USVRON) One, based at NBVC, have been engaged in Defiant’s sea trials to experience up-close and hands-on the capabilities of the first-of-its-kind USV.
The demonstration mirrored standard refueling concept of operations (CONOPS) as closely as possible, including passing the lead-line to the refueling side, passing and connecting the refueling probe to the Defiant, and pumping water – all without anyone ever aboard the Defiant. With this round of capability testing complete, Defiant is back out to sea to continue its extended demonstration of reliability and endurance.
https://www.darpa.mil/news/features/nomars
