The rise of drone boats

The fatal miniature aviation missile system was installed on the Martac T-38 Devil Ray Unmanned Surface Vehicle on October 23, 2023 during an exercise digital taron in the Arabian Gulf. Ammunition fires.Photo: Chief Mass Communication Specialist Justin Stonberg/US Navy

The Navy’s armed USV efforts appear to have peaked in Project 33. This is a new initiative announced as part of Naval Operations Chief Lisa Francitti’s 2024. Navigation Plan In September 2024, the company focused on “skull robots and autonomous systems for integrating more platforms at speed,” among other targets. A potential future war with China.

“This navigation plan will drive towards two strategic objectives: by 2027 we will be prepared for the possibility of a war with the Republic of China and will increase the long-term advantage of the Navy.” I wrote it at that time. “We will work towards these objectives through two mutually reinforced ways: implementing Project 33 and expanding the Navy’s contribution to the joint combat ecosystem. By 2027, we will adopt them. Integrates proven robots and autonomous systems for everyday use by commanders.”

The Department of Defense seems confident that the Navy’s robot push will help prepare US troops for the potential war with China, but some experienced military and defense observers is worried. Van Leiper point Marine Army Design 2030, reorganization of services prior to the conceptual island hopping conflict with China in the Pacific Ocean. As evidence that the Pentagon has yet to learn the right lesson from the 2002 Millennium Challenge.

The Marines were “known for being an Air Force Army combination with rapid responses around the world,” Van Leiper tells Wired. “Now, we’re selling every element of the arm combination, removing armor, violating vehicles, cleaning mines and passing attack bridges, cutting infantry and aviation, all buying missiles, Defense. Pacific. The Marines have removed existing abilities in favor of unproven or spawning capabilities.”

Certainly, the trend to stick to next-generation technologies like drone boats as combat solutions of all sizes, in preparation for next-generation technologies like drone boats, is the arm combination obvious in Ukrainian campaigns in the Red Sea. tactical lessons of Van Liper said.

“We shouldn’t use drones in isolation as what Ukraine is doing,” says Van Leiper. “We presented multiple challenges to the Navy Fleet (Millennium Challenge 2002), which is actually a combination of arms. What you’re doing is presenting a dilemma to the enemy. If he If he tries to protect himself from threat A, he is vulnerable to threat B, and with threats C, D, and E, he cannot handle it. In Ukraine, the Russians respond to It’s more difficult.”

“I don’t know if the US military today is ready to learn from them,” he adds. “I’m depressed from all levels, especially from leadership in Navy Services.”