U.S.-made naval drone found off Turkish coast

An AEGIR-W unmanned surface vessel made by U.S.-based Sierra Nevada Corporation was found by civilians off the coast of Ordu, Turkey.

Authorities are expected to inspect the vessel before destroying it.

The find stands out because the AEGIR-W is a military-grade unmanned surface vessel, or USV, designed for operations in contested environments, including reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and strike-related roles.

The vessel is believed to have been used in testing linked to the war in Ukraine, though that claim could not be independently verified.

The AEGIR is about 10 meters long, with a range of up to roughly 900 kilometers and a top speed above 25 knots. It can operate autonomously and carry a payload of up to 300 kilograms.

According to the company’s product sheet, the AEGIR family is built for modular missions such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare, offensive operations, and autonomous resupply.

In practical terms, this type of vessel is designed to travel long distances without a crew while carrying sensors or mission payloads, allowing it to operate in areas where crewed boats would face higher risk.