US Navy Begins Building Autonomous Warship Named After WWII Vessel

The U.S. Navy is poised to expand its fleet with a new class of autonomous warships, the Liberty Class, developed by Boston-based Blue Water Autonomy. Construction is scheduled to begin in March 2026, with the first vessel expected to be completed later this year, according to company announcements.

The February 11th unveiling of the Liberty Class marks a significant step towards the Navy’s goal of incorporating unmanned systems to augment its traditional fleet capacity. The 190-foot steel vessel boasts a range exceeding 10,000 nautical miles and a payload capacity of over 150 metric tons. The design is a collaboration between Blue Water Autonomy and Damen, a Dutch shipbuilding company with a century of experience in vessel construction, including defense ships.

“The Liberty class reflects our focus on building autonomous ships that are designed from the start for long-duration operations and repeat production,” stated Rylan Hamilton, CEO of Blue Water Autonomy, in a press release. This emphasis on scalability and sustained operation is central to the Navy’s strategy of accelerating ship builds and expanding its overall fleet presence.

The Liberty Class is built upon Damen’s Stan Patrol 6009 hull design, a proven platform featuring an Axe Bow. This distinctive, vertical bow is designed to slice through waves, reducing slamming and improving seakeeping characteristics. Over 300 vessels incorporating the Axe Bow design are currently in operation globally, minimizing technical risk and allowing Blue Water Autonomy to concentrate engineering efforts on adapting the vessel for autonomous functionality.

Blue Water Autonomy has focused on re-engineering the vessel’s internal systems for unmanned operation, including the engine room and electrical systems, creating fault-tolerant propulsion systems. This allows for automated control and fault management, enabling months-long deployments with limited human intervention. The company plans to move into serial production following the delivery of the first ship, targeting a production rate of 10 to 20 vessels per year.

The choice of Conrad Shipyard in Louisiana for construction leverages the shipyard’s existing infrastructure and workforce. Conrad Shipyard currently produces over 30 ships annually with a workforce of 1,100, providing a readily available capacity for scaling production of the Liberty Class.

The naming of the class – Liberty – is a deliberate nod to the Liberty Ships of World War II, vessels renowned for their rapid and large-scale production to meet critical wartime needs. This historical reference underscores the ambition to replicate that efficiency in addressing current naval capacity requirements.

The development of the Liberty Class comes as the U.S. Navy and Pentagon leadership actively encourage private sector innovation in key military technologies. The Navy’s push to expand its fleet capacity is driven by a need to maintain a strong presence in strategically important regions and respond to evolving global security challenges.

The Liberty Class is designed to support a range of missions, including carrying missile, sensor, and logistics payloads. This versatility allows the Navy to adapt the vessels to various operational requirements, enhancing its overall responsiveness and flexibility. The ship’s design supports integration with existing U.S. Shipyards and commercial supply chains, streamlining logistics and maintenance.

The Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment, Brendan P. Rogers, recently visited Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Naval Support Activity Portsmouth on January 22nd, 2026, signaling the Navy’s continued focus on modernizing its infrastructure and embracing new technologies. While the visit did not directly address the Liberty Class, it reflects the broader departmental commitment to innovation and fleet expansion.

The introduction of autonomous vessels like the Liberty Class represents a significant shift in naval warfare, potentially altering traditional concepts of maritime operations. While the full implications of this technology are still unfolding, unmanned systems are poised to play an increasingly important role in the future of naval power.