The U.S. Navy has revealed its new unmanned robotic Swarm boats. According to the military, these boats can protect Navy vessels and autonomously “swarm” hostile ships.

The technology was successfully demonstrated in August on the James River in Virginia.

“This networking unmanned platforms demonstration was a cost-effective way to integrate many small, cheap, and autonomous capabilities that can significantly improve our warfighting advantage,” commented Adm. Jonathan Greenert, chief of naval operations, in a statement released by the Office of Naval Research.

Amazingly, the technology that allows that boats to autonomously swarm can be installed on nearly any boat. With the technology installed, a boat can operate without a captain, including operating in sync with other unmanned robotic Swarm boats.

“Our Sailors and Marines can’t fight tomorrow’s battles using yesterday’s technology,” posited Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. Matthew Klunder. “This kind of breakthrough is the result of the Navy’s long-term support for innovative research in science and technology.”

During a demonstration of the technology in August, the boats escorted a Navy ship, and then swarmed around a simulated enemy vessel. According to the military, the technology may soon be applied to other platforms, including unmanned aerial vehicles.

“This multiplies combat power by allowing CARACaS-enabled boats to do some of the dangerous work,” explained Dr. Robert Brizzolara, program manager at ONR. “It will remove our Sailors and Marines from many dangerous situations—for instance when they need to approach hostile or suspicious vessels. If an adversary were to fire on the USVs, no humans would be at risk.”

The Navy notes, however, that any use of the weapons on the Swarm boats would need to be approved by a sailor observing the mission.

Perhaps the most promising part of this new technology is that not only does it allow the Navy to execute hazardous missions without putting sailors in harm’s way, it also reduces the cost of deploying manned ships to conduct missions that unmanned sailing vehicles are perfectly capable of handling.

Fourteen years ago this month, a boat filled explosives detonated near the USS Cole, killing 17 sailors and injuring 39 others. In the future, Swarm boats could help prevent this type of attack.

“While the attack on Cole was not the only motivation for developing autonomous swarm capability, it certainly is front and center in our minds, and hearts,” remarked Klunder. “If Cole had been supported by autonomous USVs, they could have stopped that attack long before it got close to our brave men and women on board.”