At the SOF Week 2026 conference in Tampa, Florida, the American company BlackSea Technologies unveiled the Comet, a heavily armed unmanned surface vessel designed for high-speed combat missions. The vessel can carry up to 4,5 tons of payload and reach speeds exceeding 45 knots (83 km/h).

The Comet's key feature is its missile configuration, unusual for a small UAV. The demonstrator carries both large missiles, visually similar to the AGM-114 Hellfire, for surface attacks, and more compact interceptors reminiscent of the AIM-9 Sidewinder (including the latest AIM-9X) for air defense. This "strike and defense" combination allows the vessel to simultaneously attack maritime targets and protect itself from swarms of UAVs and low-flying aircraft while navigating autonomously.

In addition to missiles, the Comet is equipped with a 30mm EOS Defense Systems USA cannon, a Leonardo DRS RADA radar, an electro-optical targeting system, and Seakeeper stabilization and radar signature reduction systems, increasing its survivability in hazardous coastal waters. Its modular architecture allows for quick payload changes for mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare, or electronic warfare missions.

The company emphasizes that "Comet is built on a simple principle: go fast and carry more." The craft is based on an aluminum hull, which the US Navy has used for over two decades, and was assembled in just one month. It has a range of up to 1000 nautical miles with a payload of 3 pounds (approximately 1360 kg) and a speed of 40 knots.

The Comet's development reflects the Pentagon's growing concern about the threat posed by cheap drone swarms and the need for small robotic vessels to operate off hostile shores without risking crews. The combat boat can shoulder some of the counter-drone and missile defense responsibilities for naval formations, reducing the burden on larger manned vessels.