This New Marine Drone Looks Like A Killer Whale, But Is Much Deadlier
While most people think like an airplane fast moving MQ-1 Predator That’s not the only option when they hear the words “military drone.” Today, drones can fly as well as swim or travel by land; They have proven their worth on the battlefield throughout the 21st century. The United States used them throughout the War on Terror, and both sides of the Russia-Ukraine War followed suit, but innovations in all areas of drone technology have increased the lethality of these devices in surprising ways.
Maritime drones in particular are becoming increasingly important worldwide, and Ukraine has already proven its worth in eliminating large, strategic and tactical targets. In February 2026, Lockheed Martin unveiled its latest marine drone, Lamprey, a multi-mission autonomous undersea vehicle (MMAUV) capable of performing any mission, but it is not the only drone of its kind. Cardona Marine Group, Inc., a defense technology startup. (CMG) has been developing a similar technology for the last 15 years, and a working prototype is currently in the sea trial phase.
Sea-Predator-7 (SP-7) is an uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) with a unique design. At first glance it looks a bit like an Orca, but it has the potential to be much more deadly; The payload capacity allows the use of a variety of lethal weapons delivered covertly to target enemy ships. While additional components and sensors would allow for remote and potentially autonomous operation in the future, the SP-7’s components could be produced rapidly for rapid production should the War Department select them in a future defense procurement contract.
Read more: 5 Weapons That Could Actually Sink a US Aircraft Carrier
Features and capabilities of Sea-Predator-7
Sea-Predator-7 seaplane on the water surface – Cardona Marine Group, Inc.
Sea-Predator 7 is designed using special Kevlar, carbon fiber, ceramic and ballistic fiberglass in its composition. It features a proprietary ballistic grooved coating and construction designed to mimic shark skin, combined with its design to increase stealth and speed while also reducing power consumption during movement. These drones can be dropped from Navy MH-60R Romeo helicopters or Navy MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraftkilometers away from the target ship, independently or in drone swarms.
SP-7 can carry more than 800 lbs. two special torpedoes, as well as explosives for one-way attack capabilities. Additional weapon options for the SP-7 include two CMG Mk 6 stealth rifling coated drone torpedoes, four CMG Mk 4 high-explosive torpedoes, one Mk 19 automatic 40 mm grenade launcher, twin M240B 7.62 mm machine guns or six 40 mm smoke grenade launchers. It can be equipped with four mini air planes used for reconnaissance purposes. Additionally, the SP-7 itself can function as a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) ship mine, hitting the target’s hull and detonating.
The USV is 13 meters long and 3 meters high with a 5-meter beam. Its weight is 700 lbs. Before loads are added. It moves through the water via electric bow planes and pulse thrusters for maneuvering, and a dedicated electric CMG duct drive for surface and subsurface operations. When you put it all together, the potential uses for SP-7s are quite widespread, with the potential to transform naval offensive warfare.
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