On August 20, 2025, Singapore’s Strategic Marine signed a Memorandum of Understanding with U.S.-based Eureka Naval Craft to co-develop the Aircat Bengal MC, the world’s first modular attack vessel built on a Surface Effect Ship (SES) hull design. The 36-meter craft, to be constructed in Singapore, combines modular flexibility, high-speed endurance, and advanced autonomous systems, setting a new benchmark for multi-mission naval platforms.
The Aircat Bengal MC delivers 50-knot performance, a 40-ton payload capacity, and mission modules tailored for strike operations, ISR, mine warfare, and humanitarian assistance. Its modular bay enables rapid swapping of containerized payloads, allowing operators to shift from combat to logistics or disaster relief within hours. With a range of 1,000 nautical miles, the craft is optimized for littoral and archipelagic regions where speed and adaptability are decisive.
Featuring Eureka’s proprietary SES hull, the vessel minimizes drag, maintains stability in rough seas, and sustains high maneuverability. Its large aft deck accommodates heavy mission systems, from missile launchers to humanitarian cargo. The platform integrates Greenroom Robotics’ GAMA autonomy suite, fully aligned with the U.S. Navy’s Unmanned Maritime Autonomy Architecture, enabling both manned and unmanned operations with allied interoperability.
Strategic Marine, a Singaporean shipbuilder founded in 2001, has earned a reputation for high-performance vessels, including patrol boats, offshore support ships, and high-speed ferries. With this project, the company positions itself as a leader in modular naval innovation.
For regional navies, the Aircat Bengal MC offers a disruptive option: scalable, reconfigurable, and cost-effective compared to traditional corvettes or frigates. Its combination of speed, autonomy, and modularity allows forces to respond flexibly to threats in contested waters, while also supporting humanitarian missions.
Construction in Singapore marks the beginning of a vessel concept that could reshape Indo-Pacific naval operations. As regional powers face expanding grey-zone challenges and complex maritime geographies, the Aircat Bengal MC stands as a groundbreaking step in surface warfare design.
