ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA — The U.S. military is currently testing an autonomous sea vessel with the ability to track enemy submarines. <br /> <br />The Sea Hunter is being trialled by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). It’s designed primarily to hunt submarines equipped with quiet electric-diesel engines. <br /> <br />The 40-meter-long vessel can travel at 31 miles per hour and has no armaments. Its design resembles a Polynesian outrigger canoe. This helps it navigate the ocean and handle challenging 6-meter-high waves. <br /> <br />According to the Department of Defence, advanced software and hardware allow it to operate autonomously around other vessels and remain at sea for months at a time. <br /> <br />Testing is expected to finish in 2018. If it is successful, it will be handed over to the U.S. Navy.
