Magnet Defense begins production of first M48 USV

First M48 delivery is scheduled for second quarter 2027 [Image: Magnet Defense]

Magnet Defense LLC, the Miami-headquartered company that acquired Metal Shark Boats in January, today announced that it is beginning production of its first deliverable M48 Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV), marking a milestone as the M48 transitions from an operationally validated prototype program to a production platform.

According to Magnet Defense, the 157-foot long M48 is a $30 million platform that represents a new class of medium-sized, combat-capable autonomous surface vessels designed for sustained operations in open ocean environments. It offers a range of up to 17,000 nautical miles and the ability to self-deploy from San Diego to the Arabian Gulf, unassisted and without refueling. This performance, says Magnet, is best-in-class and a significant differentiator amongst competitors in terms of combined range, speed, payload, and open-ocean resilience.

The M48 is built on the same hull, mechanical, and electrical systems as the Magnet Research Vessel, the prototype that has accumulated well over 1,000 days at sea and more than 40,000 nautical miles, including operations in extreme weather conditions since its launch in 2020.

Supporting a broad range of joint mission sets – including integrated air and missile defense, long range kill chains, contested logistics, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, electronic warfare, and search and rescue – the M48 is designed to multiply the reach and effectiveness of the joint force without adding manpower or logistics burden to the fleet it supports. Each M48 will be delivered equipped with Magnet Defense’s proprietary DriveAI navigational autonomy suite.

“The M48 is not a conceptual system. It is a proven capability that has operated in the real world, in real conditions,” says Marc Bell, CEO of Magnet Defense. “Beginning production means warfighters and mission partners can soon access that capability.”

With production now underway, the first M48 delivery is scheduled for the second quarter of calendar year 2027.