Naval Warfare

A new F/A-XX timeline and many, many MUSVs at Sea Air Space Day 1

Aaron Mehta and Diana Stancy share highlights from the first day of the Navy League's annual conference.

By Breaking Defense Video on April 20, 2026 10:41 pm

The first day of the Navy League’s annual Sea Air Space conference has come and gone at scenic National Harbor in Maryland. Breaking Defense Editor-in-Chief Aaron Mehta is joined by Navy reporter Diana Stancy to hit the highlights from a new F/A-XX timeline to growing interest in medium unmanned surface vessels.

Breaking Defense will be back with wrap-up videos every day after the show, in addition to our full-court press show coverage.

PHOTOS: Sea Air Space 2026

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PHOTOS: Sea Air Space 2026

The Black Sea Comet -01 43’ High Speed Interceptor is pictured on the docks outside the 2026 Sea Air Space conference at Maryland’s National Harbor. (Daniel Woolfolk / Breaking Defense)
The MQ-9B SeaGuardian is seen here during the Sea Air Space conference at Maryland’s National Harbor. (Daniel Woolfolk / Breaking Defense)
A view of the dock where several naval systems are positioned for display outside the 2026 Sea-Air-Space conference at the National Harbor, Md. (Daniel Woolfolk / Breaking Defense)
Maritime companies UltraMarine, Saildrone and HII set up their displays on the show floor of the Sea Air Space conference at Maryland’s National Harbor. (Daniel Woolfolk / Breaking Defense)
The General Atomics Electromagnetic Unmanned Underwater Vehicle as seen at the Sea Air Space conference from Maryland’s National Harbor. (Daniel Woolfolk / Breaking Defense)
A display for Romulus, an autonomous ship from HII, is pictured on the show floor at the Sea Air Space conference from Maryland’s National Harbor. (Daniel Woolfolk / Breaking Defense)
A Triton autonomous underwater and surface vehicle from Ocean Aero is displayed at the Sea Air Space conference at National Harbor, Md. (Daniel Woolfolk / Breaking Defense)
The Archerfish mine disposal weapon is displayed alongside a Sting Ray torpedo from BAE Systems at the Sea Air Space conference at National Harbor, Md. (Brendon Smith / Breaking Defense)
A view of attendees and booths on the last day of this year’s Sea-Air-Space conference at the National Harbor, Md. (Daniel Woolfolk / Breaking Defense)
Leonardo DRS showcased its Autonomous unmanned surface vessel, which is integrated with its Maritime Mission Equipment Package. (Daniel Woolfolk / Breaking Defense)
A dramatically camouflaged model stands at Qintel’s booth. (Daniel Woolfolk / Breaking Defense)
Shield AI’s X-BAT is an AI-piloted VTOL fighter jet apparently ready to blast off. (Daniel Woolfolk / Breaking Defense)
Former Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro visits with sailors at the Sea-Air-Space conference. (Daniel Woolfolk / Breaking Defense)
Schiebel displays the PILLS unmanned rotorcraft at Sea Air Space 2026. (Breaking Defense)
An American arm of European missile-maker MBDA displays the Meteor missile at Sea Air Space 2026. (Breaking Defense)
A Northrop Grumman surveillance plane (model) looms over attendees at Sea Air Space 2026. (Breaking Defense)
An SNC Freedom Trainer on display at Sea Air Space 2026. (Daniel Woolfolk / Breaking Defense)
The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command selected L3Harris to develop its Red Wolf munitions for the Marine Corps’ Precision Attack Strike Munition program. (Daniel Woolfolk / Breaking Defense)
General Dynamics Electric Boat Columbia Class submarine (front) and Virginia Class submarine (back). (Daniel Woolfolk / Breaking Defense)
IAI’s Sea Demon - Affordable Surface to Surface Cruise Missile on display on the show floor. (Daniel Woolfolk / Breaking Defense)
Path Robotics robot "dog" with welding torch on its "head," as seen at at Sea-Air-Space 2026. (Sydney Freedberg / Breaking Defense)
Anduril displays its Dive XL nose and this year's Sea Air Space. (Daniel Woolfolk / Breaking Defense)
Saildrone released a wingless Spectre USV. (Daniel Woolfolk / Breaking Defense)
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