M80 Stiletto Boat Prototype

The M80 Stiletto is a prototype naval ship manufactured by the M Ship Company as an operational experiment for the Pentagon’s Office of Force Transformation. It is notable for its hull design and carbon fiber construction, as well as its networked architecture.

The 88 foot (27 m) long vessel has a notable hull design, an M-shaped hull that provides a stable yet fast platform for mounting electronic surveillance equipment or weapons, or for conducting special operations. The hull design does not require foils or lifting devices to achieve a smooth ride at high speeds in rough conditions. Its shallow draft means the M80 Stiletto can operate in littoral and riverine environments and potentially allows for beach landings.

The M80 Stiletto is equipped with four C32 1,650 hp engines manufactured by the Caterpillar, Inc., yielding a top speed in excess of 50 knots (90 km/h) and a range of 500 nautical miles (900 km) when fully loaded. It can be outfitted with jet drives for shallow water operations and beaching.