Breaking News
First autonomous MCM vessels delivered by Bollinger as US Navy shifts mine warfare strategy.
On April 4, 2025, Bollinger Shipyards officially delivered the first three autonomous Mine Countermeasures Unmanned Surface Vehicles (MCM USVs) to the U.S. Navy. This delivery marks a significant shift in U.S. naval strategy, as these vessels are the first unmanned surface ships to be produced in full-rate under an official Navy program. Designed to conduct missions traditionally performed by manned ships and specialized helicopters, these autonomous systems represent a new phase in naval warfare focused on minimizing human risk, enhancing operational resilience, and improving force projection in high-threat maritime environments.
The delivery of the first three units by Bollinger Shipyards comes at a time when the U.S. Navy is gradually retiring its MCM-1 Avenger-class ships and MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters. (Picture source: Bollinger)
The MCM USVs are intended to operate in coastal zones, strategic straits, and potentially mined maritime corridors, where naval mines represent a serious challenge to freedom of navigation. This type of threat is particularly relevant in areas such as the South China Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Black Sea, and parts of the Arctic. In these operational theaters, the United States faces potential adversaries — including China, Iran, and Russia — that have expanded their anti-access capabilities, notably through the deployment of modern and often hard-to-detect or intelligent naval mines.
The core mission of the MCM USV is to secure these contested areas without exposing crews to direct danger. Thanks to their autonomy and modular equipment, these vessels are capable of conducting three key tasks: minesweeping, minehunting, and mine neutralization. Minesweeping clears safe passageways by removing moored or drifting mines; minehunting relies on the identification and classification of underwater threats; and mine neutralization involves eliminating mines through precise actions, often using remotely operated underwater vehicles or directed charges.
The use of unmanned systems in these scenarios offers several operational advantages. First, it enables continuous presence in high-risk areas without the need for personnel on board, increasing unit availability while reducing fatigue and exposure. Second, the modularity of the MCM USV allows its configuration to be adapted to different missions or threats, making it an evolutive platform aligned with the rapid technological changes in mine warfare. Third, these vessels can be integrated into a broader network-centric naval warfare framework, in coordination with other surface, underwater, or aerial drones, as well as with command ships.
The delivery of the first three units by Bollinger Shipyards comes at a time when the U.S. Navy is gradually retiring its MCM-1 Avenger-class ships and MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters. While these legacy platforms have proven effective, they are increasingly costly to maintain, vulnerable to evolving threats, and limited in their operational endurance. In contrast, the MCM USVs provide a more agile solution, requiring fewer human resources and better suited for extended operations in high-risk environments. Their introduction also aligns with a broader shift toward digitalization and automation within the U.S. armed forces, which are investing heavily in unmanned capabilities to counter asymmetric and hybrid threats.
In the future, MCM USVs could be deployed as part of U.S. carrier strike groups or operated from forward bases and motherships such as Littoral Combat Ships, destroyers, or expeditionary platforms. Their use may also be coordinated with allied naval forces, particularly in the context of NATO maritime security operations or joint exercises in the Indo-Pacific and Middle East regions. Their rapid deployment, low acoustic signature, and ability to operate in shallow waters enhance their strategic value in maritime zones where confrontations are intensifying.
The entry into service of the first MCM USVs represents more than a technical development; it signals a fundamental doctrinal shift in how the United States envisions future naval warfare. By adopting autonomous systems capable of operating independently in contested environments, the U.S. Navy is not only enhancing the security of its forces and allies but also maintaining freedom of action in the face of adversaries employing access denial strategies. Bollinger Shipyards, through the delivery of these initial vessels, plays a central role in the emergence of a new strategic model in which autonomy, modularity, and resilience become essential components of maritime superiority.