Imagine a future in which fast, uncrewed drone boats slice through the water—quiet, sleek and almost invisible. No crew on board, no risk to human lives, yet equipped with enough firepower to make even the world’s largest warships nervous. That future is no longer far-fetched. Leidos and Kongsberg are taking a step that brings together a drone boat and a missile.
An uncrewed drone boat
Leidos has developed a new type of uncrewed vessel designed to cut through the water at high speed. The design is streamlined, stealthy and built for maximum agility. Despite its compact size, it carries a striking amount of power. Inside the hull there is space for two weapon systems that have already earned a global reputation for being highly effective against large naval ships.
This ultra-fast drone boat is now set to be equipped with missiles.
The striking power of the Naval Strike Missile
That is where Kongsberg comes in. The Norwegian defence specialist provides the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), one of the most sought-after precision missiles in the world. The NSM is known for its smart flight profile, long range and ability to take out key enemy ships. The combination of stealth, speed and advanced missile technology makes this partnership explosive—in a figurative sense.
For hostile navies, this creates a completely new threat. While large warships have traditionally been prepared for attacks from aircraft or other ships, small, fast and autonomous platforms are a very different challenge. They are hard to detect, can operate in groups and force a fleet to stay constantly alert. The asymmetry is enormous: a relatively small uncrewed craft capable of seriously damaging or disabling a ship worth billions of euros. We already see a similar shift with aerial drones, as in Ukraine.
Why this cooperation is making the world pay attention
The strength of this project lies in the synergy. Leidos delivers the platform: uncrewed, extremely fast and very difficult to detect on radar. Kongsberg delivers the NSM: a weapon that has already proven its value across several navies.
Together they are creating a system that:
- Costs relatively little compared with traditional warships,
- Removes the risk to crews,
- Is extremely difficult to stop,
- Forces an enemy to adopt entirely new tactics and defence strategies.
This changes the maritime playing field. It marks a shift toward smart, autonomous systems that are flexible to deploy and offer exceptional striking power. For countries that possess them, it is a strategic advantage. For their opponents, it is a major problem.
A new phase in maritime warfare
The cooperation between Leidos and Kongsberg reflects a trend that has been visible for some time. No longer are only huge ships or advanced fighter aircraft decisive for dominance at sea. In the shadow of the ocean, a new kind of player is now moving—uncrewed, quiet and highly capable platforms that are rewriting the rules. This is not only happening above the water; below the surface, multiple systems are also being developed. Think of drone submarines in the United States, Germany and Australia. We are likely to see more and more of these kinds of vehicles.
