The deployment of the NeedleFish fleet is expected to significantly enhance the operational capabilities of the Kuwait Coast Guard
Kuwait has launched a fleet of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) named NeedleFish as part of a USD 213 million maritime surveillance programme aimed at enhancing the country’s coastal security. Developed in collaboration with UK-based Ocean Infinity and SRT Marine Systems, the high-speed USVs were unveiled during a live demonstration attended by senior government and military officials, including Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Minister of Interior, and Commodore Sheikh Mubarak, Commander of the Kuwait Coast Guard.
The NeedleFish fleet is central to Project Vigilant, a national initiative introduced in October 2024 to strengthen Kuwait’s marine domain awareness. The programme incorporates a network of static and mobile surveillance platforms outfitted with high-performance sensors, such as radars, cameras and radio-frequency detectors. These systems are interconnected through SRT Marine’s GeoVS platform, which leverages artificial intelligence to provide real-time operational awareness.
Each NeedleFish USV measures 14 metres in length and six metres in width, and features a dual-hull, wave-piercing design with twin marine jet engines. Capable of speeds exceeding 40 miles per hour, they are reportedly the fastest in their category. While the precise endurance capabilities of the vessels remain classified, officials confirmed that they can remain at sea for multiple days and are remotely operated from onshore command centres.
Ocean Infinity, which has been operating USVs since 2019, engineered the NeedleFish vessels with a suite of marine robotics and AI systems tailored for complex surveillance and mapping tasks. The new USVs are equipped with multiple sensors and are integrated into Kuwait’s newly established command and control centres, part of the country’s wider C5iSR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) architecture. This infrastructure supports surveillance coverage of Kuwait’s 11,000 square kilometres of territorial waters.
The deployment of the NeedleFish fleet is expected to significantly enhance the operational capabilities of the Kuwait Coast Guard. The vessels will be used for a wide range of missions, including identifying suspicious maritime activity, performing search and rescue operations, escorting vessels, monitoring fishing zones, and conducting pollution detection and seabed mapping. The USVs also offer the capability for covert surveillance and long-range deterrence patrols, marking a notable step forward in autonomous maritime security operations.