Abstract
<jats:p>This working paper introduces the Low-Observable Deployable Modular Surface Platform (LODMSP) as a conceptual maritime morphology for the next phase of autonomous surface systems. It argues that fixed-deck modularity may represent a transitional stage and that future autonomous maritime platforms may increasingly be evaluated by their ability to compress into low-profile transit configurations and expand into deployable mission interfaces. The paper develops analytical metrics for assessing deployable modular platforms, including deployment ratio, functional interface ratio, modular separation index, distributed expansion coefficient, and interface maturity level. It situates LODMSP within public trends in unmanned surface vessels, containerized naval capability, distributed maritime operations, and autonomous-system infrastructure power, while emphasizing that the concept is not a procurement proposal, engineering specification, or weapons-integration design.</jats:p>