Crewless warship concept pushes autonomous naval warfare closer to reality

Navantia’s UK arm has unveiled LASV75, a 75-meter uncrewed surface vessel concept built to operate alongside crewed warships.

The design is meant for multiple missions, including escorting ships and carrying containerized payloads, as navies push toward hybrid fleets.

The Royal Navy is already planning a mix of crewed ships, autonomous vessels, and drones, signaling faster adoption of naval autonomy.

The shift could reshape fleet design, reduce operating costs, and raise new questions about human oversight in weapons systems.