This Is the Enata Foiler USV, a Luxury Flying Yacht Turned Unmanned Military Vessel

That's what Enata is doing with the latest addition to its lineup, the Foiler USV.

The Foiler USV (Unmanned Surface Vehicle) is the first product of its kind from this particular company, and it builds on the experience already accumulated with the previous versions of the original Enata Foiler yacht introduced in 2018 – and on the technology developed for the more recent, 32.8-foot (10-meter) Foiler Spirit.

The Foiler USV is a fancy, high-tech, super-fast flying yacht, to put it in very simple terms. It doesn't really fly, but it rises above the waterline on four retractable hydrofoils, which allows it to be incredibly fast and to deliver a smooth, comfortable, and relatively noise-less ride, like its predecessor and direct inspiration, the Spirit.

Enata once said about its Flying yacht that if you sat in the foredeck of the open-cabin version and the hydrofoils were activated, it was almost like flying. The experience won't be the same with USV, but if it carried a passenger, they would probably still feel like flying.

The USV is an enclosed-cabin watercraft – an obvious choice on considerations of security and operability. It was designed specifically for military operations and can be sent out unmanned.

Enata first made waves (of the figurative kind) in 2018 with the original version of this flying yacht. One year later, the Flying Foiler was introduced as an upgrade: it replaced the hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system with pure diesel by means of twin 370-hp turbocharged V8 engines, offering 40 knots (46 mph/74 kph) at top speed and the benefit of keeping a steady higher speed for longer.

The interior was also more polished and fully customizable, prompting Enata to boast multiple applicability, whether as a dayboat, a superyacht tender, or the accessory you still lacked to get that James Bond look down to a T.

The original Enata hydrofoil was awesome, but the Foiler Flying yacht was even awesomer. It was just the right combination of luxury and high performance that well-mannered, well-off, thrill-seeking gentlemen and ladies were looking for.

The Foiler USV is still all these things but with an unexpected and highly utilitarian twist. Enata is getting into military stuff by further developing the Flying Foiler into the perfect machine for a wide range of operations. Perhaps the most impressive part is that the Foiler USV is fully autonomous, so it can be operated from the shore by remote control.

The Foiler USV is a fast-response vessel ideal for patrolling coastal waters, search and rescue, and a "variety of missions," whether on its own or paired with a drone and other surveillance gear, ballistic nets, or sound and light cannons. An armored version will be made available to allow movement of troops. Enata will start with orders from military clients but doesn't rule out the possibility of bringing it to the consumer market.

Like the Flying Foiler, the USV gets its 740 hp of power from twin Nanni V8 turbocharged engines and the W-foil system that lifts it over the water once it reaches a certain speed. Hydrofoils make the vessel faster, more comfortable, and stabler, but they also work well in terms of improving efficiency, reducing noise, and unwanted movement of the vessel.

With fuel efficiency comes an impressive range: 1,243 miles (2,000 km) on a single tank while cruising at 25 to 30 knots (28.7 mph/46.3 kph to 34.5 mph/55.5 kph). Like with its predecessor, top speed is 40 knots (46 mph/74 kph), and maximum height over water achieved with the foils is 5 feet (1.5 meters), which earns it the "flying" moniker. That top speed can be achieved even in heavy weather like a sea state 5, and the USV is capable of turns even at over 2Gs of force, according to Enata.

The USV handles like a sportscar when operated by a human and is fitted with the proprietary Wingman command and control software, which handles the operation of the hydrofoils and allows it to carry simple automated tasks without the need for human intervention. Because the hydrofoils are retractable, the USV is just as comfortable in shallower shore water as it's at greater depths.

Enata has already kicked off the production of the Foiler USV and is planning the launch of a demonstrator for later this year or in early 2024. Pricing for this new model has not been disclosed, nor is it expected to be made public until the commercial version is out at some point in the future. For reference, the human-operated, more luxurious Enata Flying Foiler starts at $900,000.