Blue Ops, West Palm Beach, Fla., is ramping production of its Variant 7 uncrewed surface vessel at its 155,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing facility in Valdosta, Ga., a year after establishing the operation there.
The maritime division of Red Cat Holdings Inc., South Salt Lake, Utah, marked the anniversary Sept. 21 with an event at the facility, where the company showcased its Variant 5 and Variant 7 USVs and christened a Variant 7 before lowering it into an indoor test pool.
Blue Ops leased the former Regal Boats facility in September 2025 and has since announced plans to invest $30 million in the operation and create more than 200 jobs. The Georgia Department of Economic Development said earlier this year that Blue Ops expected to hire as many as 100 employees in 2026.
The facility combines vessel manufacturing, systems integration, and testing as Blue Ops moves the Variant 7 into full-rate production for U.S. and allied defense customers.
“America has a long history of leading the world in shipbuilding and innovation, and we have an opportunity to lead again,” said Barry Hinckley, president of Blue Ops. “The next generation of naval power will look different. Smaller, smarter, autonomous systems produced rapidly and at scale will operate alongside our traditional fleet.”
The 7-meter Variant 7 is designed as a mission-adaptable autonomous platform for applications including force protection, coastal security, and integrated unmanned aircraft operations. Red Cat lists the vessel with more than 1,600 nautical miles of extended range, endurance of up to 12.5 days at 5 knots, and payload capacity of 1,764 lbs.
Blue Ops announced in May that the Variant 7 was moving into full-rate production. The company has continued adding propulsion and autonomy options to the platform, including an August integration of a Volvo Penta D4-320 diesel engine and DPI drive.
The Valdosta plant is part of Blue Ops’ broader U.S. footprint, which includes its headquarters and showroom in West Palm Beach, Fla. The company develops USVs for defense and national security applications.
The Sept. 21 event was recognized through proclamations from Georgia and Valdosta-Lowndes County as the inaugural Blue Ops Day.
