Greece is seeking to acquire at least 30 American-made Corsair autonomous unmanned surface vessels (USVs) after the Hellenic Navy tested the systems and submitted a Letter of Request (LOR) to the United States for procurement.
Greek Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias attended the inauguration of the Joint Unmanned and Autonomous Maritime Systems Training Centre on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, at the Palaskas Training Centre (KEPAL), part of the Hellenic Navy’s Naval Training Command. The facility operates at the Kanellopoulos Naval Base in Skaramagas, west of Athens.
The event showcased several domestically developed systems that Greece is testing as it seeks to become a European leader in autonomous platform development by 2030, an ambition Dendias has outlined. However, the appearance of the Corsair USV, developed by American company Saronic, stood out among the systems on display.
According to footage released by Greece’s Ministry of National Defence, at least two Corsair vessels are undergoing trials with the Hellenic Navy. Several fleet units have participated in the tests, with the support ships HS Perseas (A377) and possibly HS Aias (A473) transporting the unmanned vessels.
The trials also demonstrated how the Corsair could operate tactically alongside several warships.
The Ministry of National Defence said the Hellenic Navy had conducted extensive trials and successfully evaluated the vessels. Greece has submitted a Letter of Request to the United States to procure an unspecified number of Corsair USVs through the government-to-government Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.
Separately, Hellas Journal, citing journalist George Sideris, reported that the Hellenic Navy plans to acquire at least 30 vessels. The reported procurement would significantly expand Greece’s unmanned surface fleet in the coming years.
Corsair USV specifications and capabilities
The Corsair is a seven-metre autonomous surface vessel designed to carry payloads of up to 1,000 pounds (approximately 454 kilograms) over distances exceeding 1,000 nautical miles.
The vessel features electro-optical systems, advanced communications equipment and mission-specific sensors. It also supports collaborative autonomous operations, commonly known as swarming, which allow multiple vessels to coordinate their movements and carry out complex missions.
Its potential missions include Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), one-way attack operations and Search and Rescue (SAR). Its artificial intelligence systems and open architecture also allow operators to upgrade its capabilities and integrate additional technologies.
US Navy has deployed Corsair vessels operationally
The US Navy has introduced Corsair USVs into operational service and deployed them on real-world missions.
Their use in the Persian Gulf region came to light in June 2026, when reports said a Corsair vessel played a key role in rescuing two crew members from a US Army AH-64E Apache attack helicopter that had gone down.
In July 2026, reports said three Corsair USVs struck the port at Bandar Abbas Naval Base. If confirmed, the operation marked a significant milestone in the US military’s use of unmanned surface vessels in combat.
Hellenic Navy Tests SARONIC’s Corsair USV Ahead of Major Order
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