BlackSea Technologies
About
About BlackSea Technologies
BlackSea Technologies builds the Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft, a compact uncrewed surface vessel for naval and special-operations missions. The 16-foot craft uses a 200-horsepower engine, reaches 40 knots and carries payloads up to 1,000 pounds. A modular architecture accepts sensing, communications, mine-countermeasure, survey, interdiction and strike equipment, with control available through autonomous mission software or remote operators.
GARC has accumulated more than 5,000 operating hours in U.S. Navy fleet activity, including work in rough seas and cold-weather multinational exercises. Launch, recovery and third-party payload integration are part of the fielded system. BlackSea produces the vessel at the former Bethlehem-Fairfield shipyard in Baltimore, where its active line is set up to complete one unit per day, moving the platform beyond prototype-scale manufacturing.
Articles
Operations
Output & shipments
- Deliveries
2026-10-21 - AEVEX states that the acquired BlackSea business delivered 325 GARC vessels in 2025. - BlackSea’s own complete GARC vessels delivered to the US Navy in 2025, before its acquisition by AEVEX.
Source
Operating milestones
- Operating milestone
2026-10-21 - The Navy’s GARC fleet has accumulated more than 25,000 on-water operating hours, according to AEVEX. - BlackSea-built GARC vessels operated by the US Navy; customer operating hours, not manufacturer fleet size or internal robot use.
Source
Supply
Supply chain relationships
- Doodle Labs
Inbound - Communications - Doodle Labs Helix radios are incorporated in UXV modules used for BlackSea GARC vessel communications
Source - UXV Technologies
Inbound - Control - BlackSea selected UXV Technologies SRoC ground controllers for its second-generation GARC vessels
Source - UXV Technologies
Inbound - Communications - UXV Technologies supplies Helix Swappable Radio Modules incorporating Doodle Labs radios for BlackSea GARC vessels
Source
Timeline
Events
- 2026-10-21 - Market Signal - AEVEX disputes GARC order-halt reports and outlines continuing Navy work
The acquired BlackSea business fulfilled its 2025 delivery obligation with 325 GARC vessels. The US Navy’s GARC fleet has logged more than 25,000 cumulative on-water operating hours. Current contract work includes new mission packages, while Chaser and Comet are separate next-generation vessel programmes.
Source - 2026-09-08 - Acquisition - AEVEX completes acquisition of BlackSea Technologies
BlackSea reports more than 350 uncrewed surface vehicles delivered and over 25,000 operational hours. Its Baltimore facility can produce roughly 40 USVs per month. The transaction was announced Aug. 12; this event records the Sept. 8 closing.
Source - 2026-08-12 - Acquisition - AEVEX agrees to acquire BlackSea Technologies for up to $650 million
The proposed consideration comprises about $250 million in cash, $350 million in AEVEX stock and an earnout of up to $50 million. BlackSea develops uncrewed surface and underwater vehicles and reports manufacturing capacity of roughly 40 USVs per month. The transaction would add surface and subsea platforms to AEVEX’s existing airborne autonomous-systems portfolio.
Source - 2025-08-05 - Demonstration - BlackSea GARC joins Navy Operation Southern Spear experiments
The activity tested small uncrewed craft in a Navy experimentation context. This is typed as demonstration because the source describes experimental use rather than sustained deployment. The milestone strengthens BlackSea GARC's position in commercial automation and autonomous-system workflows.
Source - 2025-06-18 - Market Signal - U.S. Navy leadership visits BlackSea production facilities
Acting Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jim Kilby visited BlackSea Technologies production facilities in Baltimore. The Navy described BlackSea support for the Small Unmanned Surface Vehicles program. The visit signaled Navy attention to BlackSea production capacity and fleet-operations support.
Source - 2025-02-27 - Production Milestone - BlackSea Technologies reaches over 32 GARCs per month
The company tied the rate to its Baltimore production facility and unmanned naval systems demand. This is classified as a production milestone because it states a current monthly build/delivery rate.
Source
Relations
Relationships
- AEVEX
Acquirer - AEVEX completed its acquisition of BlackSea Technologies on Sept. 8; BlackSea now operates as AEVEX Maritime Systems.
Context
Comparable profiles
- Saronic
comparable profile - Defence Surface Maritime Autonomy Builder
- Blue Ops
comparable profile - Defence Surface Maritime Autonomy Builder
- Sierra Nevada Corporation
comparable profile - Defence Surface Maritime Autonomy Builder
Context tags
- Autonomous surface vessel OEM - Stack Layer - Profile classification from source-backed platform, component, customer, or workflow evidence.
- Autonomous surface navigation - Capability - Profile classification from source-backed platform, component, customer, or workflow evidence.
- Naval defence customers - Customer Environment - Profile classification from source-backed platform, component, customer, or workflow evidence.
- Defence surface maritime autonomy builder - Peer Group - Profile classification from source-backed platform, component, customer, or workflow evidence.