BlackSea Technologies Joins Operation Southern Spear to Enhance Maritime Security
Read the Navy’s full press release on Southern Spear below:
GARC rests in the water within OCEANUS VI.
BALTIMORE, MD, June 4, 2025 – BlackSea Technologies (“BlackSea”), a leader in the development of innovative maritime systems and mission solutions for the defense and intelligence communities, today announced its participation in Operation Southern Spear, the newest U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet initiative. This operation advances the Navy's Hybrid Fleet Campaign by integrating Robotic and Autonomous Systems (RAS) into the U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility (USSOUTHCOM AOR).
BlackSea is contributing two vessels to the operation: the Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC), a 16-foot Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) designed for reconnaissance and operational support, and Oceanus VI, a 162-foot Mission Support Vessel. Oceanus VI features a shallow draft, 30,000-pound payload capacity, and a 3,000-pound crane, making it an important asset for providing logistical support during extended maritime operations.
According to the U.S. Navy, the operation marks 4th Fleet's transition from short-duration experimentation to sustained operations, integrating unmanned systems with U.S. Coast Guard cutters and operational centers at 4th Fleet and Joint Interagency Task Force South. This initiative supports the Navy's Project 33 goals to expand maritime domain awareness through advanced autonomous capabilities.
This work is in support of the Monitoring, Analysis, Reconnaissance, Logistics, Intelligence, and Network Services (MARLINS) Task Order primed by SMX in support of the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM).
About BlackSea Technologies
BlackSea Technologies is a premier naval technology firm enabling new asymmetric strategies so U.S. Naval and military forces can prevail over the next several decades in multi-dimensional conflicts. We deliver innovative maritime systems and mission solutions to our nation’s warfighters from the ocean surface to the seabed.
Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, we produce our Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) sUSV and other vessels at the former Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard in Baltimore where Liberty Ships were built during World War II. For more information about BlackSea, please visit our web site and follow us on LinkedIn.
Media Contact
Alan Gilbert
BlackSea Technologies
703 624 4675
BlackSea Mission Solutons launches GARC from Oceanus VI.
