The delivery of the Sea Serpent unmanned surface vessel (USV) to a Saudi Arabian client in early February 2026 marks a notable milestone for the South African maritime industry. This vessel represents the first autonomous maritime platform designed and manufactured entirely within South Africa. Its arrival in the Middle East follows a rigorous period of sea trials that validated its performance in demanding conditions. The project demonstrates the capacity of South African engineering to compete in the expanding global market for autonomous systems.
Sea Serpent is a 3-meter, high-speed unmanned surface vehicle built by a partnership between Al Seer Marine and 5G International, Inc. The USV is designed for surveillance and security missions in near-coastal areas and can be carried by a larger craft.
The Sea Serpent, which began its development cycle under the working name Prowler, is the result of a tripartite collaboration between Icarus Marine, Legacy Marine, and Noble Concentric Solutions. Construction on the platform commenced in April 2024, focusing on creating a versatile demonstrator for a research entity evaluating technology for the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces. This proof-of-concept vessel aims to prove that high-level autonomy can be integrated into a robust, cost-effective platform capable of meeting modern naval requirements.
Technically, the Sea Serpent is a medium-class USV constructed from aluminium. It measures 9.2 meters in length and maintains an empty weight of 3.5 tonnes. When fully loaded, its displacement increases to 5.1 tonnes. Propulsion is provided by a single Volvo Penta D6-400 engine, which produces 400 horsepower. This power plant allows the vessel to reach a maximum speed of nearly 38 knots, while its economical cruising speed is set at 25 knots. Endurance is a primary design factor; the Sea Serpent achieves a range of 420 nautical miles at cruising speed and 360 nautical miles when operating at maximum velocity.
The vessel achieves International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Level 4 autonomy through the integration of the Voyager AI system. At this level of autonomy, the craft can interpret its surroundings and avoid obstacles with minimal human intervention, though it remains capable of manual operation. The autonomous navigation suite relies on a fusion of data from Furuno Doppler radar, Icom AIS (Automatic Identification System) transponders, and an Airmar SS60 echo sounder. These systems, combined with HIKVision perception cameras, allow for effective collision avoidance, obstacle detection, and anti-grounding maneuvers.
Communication is handled through a tiered system to ensure connectivity across various ranges. For line-of-sight (LOS) operations, the craft utilises a Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (COFDM) mesh radio. For beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) missions, the Sea Serpent integrates Starlink or equivalent satellite links. This dual-layered approach enables persistent surveillance and control even when the vessel operates over the horizon from its command center.
The mission payload currently includes a sophisticated sensor suite featuring a cooled medium-wave infrared (MWIR) camera for electro-optic surveillance and a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) for non-kinetic hailing and warning. Under a separate contract, Dynateq International is scheduled to install a 12.7 mm remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS) once the vessel is in Saudi Arabia. This armament will transform the demonstrator into a platform capable of active defence and engagement, suitable for anti-piracy or perimeter security roles.
Eddie Noble, the Managing Director of Noble Concentric Solutions, explains to DefenceWeb that the USV serves as a force multiplier for military organisations. The platform provides persistent surveillance, harbour protection, and rapid response capabilities without exposing human crews to danger. Beyond the immediate military applications such as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) or mine countermeasures, the Sea Serpent is designed for modularity. Its “Mission Bay” allows for the rapid integration of specialised equipment for hydrographic surveys, electronic warfare, or communication relay tasks.
The utility of the Sea Serpent extends into the civilian and research sectors. It is well suited for long-endurance environmental data collection, climate monitoring, and pollution tracking. In the logistics and energy sectors, the vessel can conduct autonomous inspections of pipelines and cables or provide situational awareness for offshore assets. The reduction in fuel and manpower expenses compared to manned vessels makes it an attractive option for fisheries management and blue economy protection, where constant presence is required but budgets are constrained.
A unique feature of the Sea Serpent is its Helmsman Bay. While the vessel is designed for unmanned operations, this bay contains all the necessary manual controls to allow a human pilot to take command. This inclusion was specific to the test and evaluation phase, ensuring that the vessel could be safely operated in congested waters or during specific development trials before transitioning to full autonomous mode.
The project also catalyses the South African economy and its defence sector. By utilising local construction and integration skills, the program has established a new high-tech skills category in autonomous control within the country. Noble has indicated that the company is currently exploring leads for similar platforms across Africa and the Middle East. The success of the Sea Serpent delivery positions South Africa as a regional exporter of high-end maritime technology rather than a consumer of foreign systems.
As maritime threats evolve and the demand for persistent, low-cost naval presence grows, the Sea Serpent demonstrates how modular autonomous platforms can meet these challenges. The successful delivery in February 2026 confirms that the vessel can operate in the “very trying” conditions typical of modern maritime theatres. It marks a clear shift toward unmanned systems that can perform the dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks traditionally reserved for crewed ships.
Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) are increasingly being deployed in Africa for various applications, including maritime security, environmental monitoring, and scientific research. Nigeria, in particular, is seeing significant growth in USV adoption, driven by government initiatives to enhance coastal and offshore security and the oil and gas industry’s need for underwater inspections and monitoring.
The Nigerian Navy recently acquired two SwiftSea Stalker unmanned surface vessels (USVs) from Swiftship, a US-based shipbuilder. The USVs are expected to enhance the Navy’s maritime security and surveillance capabilities.
Also, last May, the U.S. Navy conducted tests on an innovative autonomous drone, known as TRITON, in the waters of West Africa during the Obangame Express multinational maritime exercise.
