Page 9: of Marine Technology Magazine (November 2025)

Air to Surface: Where the Sky Meets the Sea

The emergence of unmanned air systems (UAS) with am- phibious and submersible capabilities represents a potentially transformative development in maritime defense. Among the most mature of these cross-domain systems is the Naviator, developed at Rutgers University and now marketed by Sub-

UAS LLC. First demonstrated in 2017, the Naviator is a quad- copter drone that can transition from the air to water depths of up to 1000 feet. Its four rotors serve double duty: providing lift and maneuvering in the air, and functioning as propellers underwater. The vehicle has demonstrated missions ranging from bridge inspection to harbor access reconnaissance, and shows potential for mine hunting, hull inspection, and search and rescue. With the ability to dive, maneuver, and return to ? ight, the Naviator represents perhaps the most battlespace- ready realization of an aerial-aquatic hybrid to date.

Another contender is from Vancouver-based Seahawk Ro- botics. With its ruggedized, waterproof airframe, the F4 is de-

THE NAVIATOR DRONE signed to land, ? oat, and operate on open water for extended periods. Rather than fully submerging, it uses the water’s sur- face as a base for deploying and retrieving sensors using an

Credit: U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams/Released onboard winch. For navies and commercial operators alike, www.marinetechnologynews.com 9

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