Israel is developing a hybrid naval force in which autonomous vessels, remotely operated “wing ships” and conventional warships work together to extend the Navy’s reach.
By Hezy Laing
Israel’s Navy is moving toward a radically different model of naval warfare in which ships can spend days at sea with fewer sailors—and eventually operate with no crew at all.
The transition is being driven by the need to expand Israel’s Navy presence without a corresponding increase in manpower, while confronting threats from Iran, the Houthis, Turkey and other regional actors.
The emerging vision is a partly self-operating fleet in which human crews increasingly supervise robotic platforms rather than operate every system directly.
Israel has already accumulated extensive experience with unmanned maritime vehicles.
Elbit Systems’ Seagull, a 12-meter autonomous surface vessel, can remain at sea for more than four days and is designed for multiple missions, including anti-submarine warfare, mine countermeasures, maritime security, electronic warfare and underwater mapping.
Its modular design allows different mission payloads to be installed according to mission needs.
The concept is now expanding beyond individual unmanned boats.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) unveiled its DIAMOND system in 2026, using remotely operated “wing ships” alongside a conventional frigate.
These smaller vessels can be controlled from the mother ship and integrated with its radar and fire-control systems, effectively extending the frigate’s sensors, weapons and ability to operate farther without placing additional sailors aboard every platform.
Israel also has experience with the Protector unmanned surface vessel developed by Rafael and the Katana, introduced by IAI in 2014 for missions including protection of offshore important facilities.
Israeli unmanned maritime technology has already been exported, with the Seagull sold to an Asia-Pacific country and demonstrated during the multinational Digital Horizon exercise in the Persian Gulf in 2022.
Compared with other countries, Israel is operating from a relatively advanced technological base, although it is not alone in pursuing robotic fleets.
The United States Navy is developing large numbers of unmanned surface and underwater vessels and in September 2026 announced plans to procure 30 medium unmanned surface vessels, while U.S. forces have already deployed uncrewed boats operationally in the Middle East.
France, Singapore and the Netherlands are also developing increasingly autonomous naval capabilities.
The Israeli approach, however, emphasizes integrating robots with existing manned warships rather than immediately replacing them.
The result could be a hybrid fleet in which humans provide command, judgment and oversight while robotic vessels undertake dangerous, repetitive and long-duration missions.
