The United States Department of Defense is working on Stiletto, a ship
using what it calls “M Hull” technology, composed of M-shaped arches
that let ships travel at a blistering 50 knots without making waves.

There’s an element of stealth at work here, too, where now ships can
sneak up on each other, terminating each other’s command with extreme
prejudice. With this remarkable innovation, finally the Navy can put
these killing machines to work.

The Stiletto is an operational experiment by the Pentagon’s Office of Force Transformation (OFT)
and its revolutionary carbon fibre structure and hull enable it to
operate in shallow water, with 50 knot speeds, stability and great
stealth as part of its armoury. Costing US$12.5 million to develop and
build, the 88ft vessel is capable of carrying 37 tonnes at speed over a
range of 500 nautical miles. The patented M-hull design
transitions automatically and efficiently through hydrostatic,
hydrodynamic and aerostatic lift modes with increasing speeds
effectively creating a cushion of air and providing a comfortable high
speed ride with great stability, and has enormous promise for a wide range of nautical applications for boats from 8 through 200 feet (see these stunning concepts).
The Stiletto is powered by four 1,650-horsepower Caterpillar engines,
and can cruise comfortably near its top speed of more than 50 knots (60
miles per hour). With a shallow draft of less than 3 feet, Stiletto has
a three man crew, and will carry a complement of 12 US Navy Sea, Air
and Land (SEAL) commandos, an11 metre rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB)
and either Manta and Silver Wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Stiletto finally sees the water Photo by Samantha L. Quigley, American Forces Press Service	Click image to enlarge	Click image to enlarge
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Click image to enlarge	The Stiletto can launch its own UAVs	Click image to enlarge
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