US Firm Seasats Films Chinese Destroyer in Philippines Economic Zone

The footage consists of two sequences: a black-and-white clip showing a vertical column of water and a color sequence of the open sea. In the color footage, a gray naval vessel with elevated structures and smoke emissions is visible. Reuters verified the authenticity of the video and identified the ship as a Type 052D guided-missile destroyer by comparing its mast, crane, superstructure, and deck design with archival imagery.

Seasats and the Lightfish Platform

The operation was conducted by Seasats, a California-based manufacturer of autonomous vessels with six years of experience. Their Lightfish model is the smallest in their current lineup, designed for rapid deployment from a launching ramp, a small boat, or even the back of a pickup truck.

Technical specifications for the Lightfish include a hybrid fuel system allowing for missions up to six months in duration. It is capable of operating in sea state 6, which involves waves up to 6 meters.

• Electro-optical and infrared cameras
• Signal intelligence (SIGINT) capabilities
• Electronic warfare payloads
• Active and passive sonar systems

Mike Flanigan, the CEO of Seasats, emphasized the accessibility of this data, stating to Reuters: We are capable of out there, filming, getting close and recording all that data from a Chinese ship.

PLA Navy Presence and Philippine Response

The presence of the Type 052D destroyer is part of a broader trend of increased Chinese maritime activity. The Philippine Coast Guard has reported that Chinese presence in the area has risen over the past year compared to 2024, noting that this increase includes the deployment of warships. The Philippine embassy in Washington responded to the incident by stating it would remind all parties to avoid actions that escalate tensions, particularly when it is proven that the Philippine exclusive economic zone is being transgressed.

While the Chinese embassy in Washington indicated it was unaware of the situation and offered no comment, Seasats reports that this is not an isolated event. The company has had multiple encounters over the years with various PLA Navy vessels, including Type 056 corvettes, Type 052 destroyers, and Type 055 destroyers.

Scaling Autonomous Warfare: Quickfish and Heavyfish

The Lightfish is only one part of a scaling hardware strategy. Seasats has already raised more than USD 40 million in financing and secured U.S. government contracts exceeding USD 100 million. The company is currently producing a larger drone called the Quickfish. Unlike the Lightfish, the Quickfish features a dedicated cargo bay designed to launch unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or, eventually, munitions.

Further expansion is planned with a third vessel, known as the Heavyfish, which is currently in the design phase.

A private firm can now deploy a low-cost, autonomous asset to track and record a billion-dollar sovereign warship in real-time.