USN unmanned ambitions face a crucial year
Hurdles await the USN in its effort to developed greater unmanned capabilities as Congress remains to be convinced.
Despite financial pressures, political opposition and operational challenges, the USN is looking to make progress on a series of unmanned platform programmes in 2021 in line with its ambition to create a hybrid manned-unmanned force for the next generation.
In particular the Large Unmanned Surface Vessel (LUSV) and Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) are intended to form the surface centrepieces of the future fleet, providing distributed lethality and sensor networking.
According to the USN FY2021 budget submission, the LUSV and MUSV are intended to be ‘key enablers’ of the Distributed Maritime Operations concept, which includes being able to forward deploy
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Indian Navy’s next generation OPV fleet advances with keel-laying of third vessel]()
Indian Navy’s next generation OPV fleet advances with keel-laying of third vessel
The ship is the third in a fleet of 11, with the first vessel due to be delivered in 2026.
-
![Fincantieri and TKMS partner for Philippine submarine bid]()
Fincantieri and TKMS partner for Philippine submarine bid
The companies have banded together to promote the Fincantieri U212 NFS offering, and hinted that the collaboration may not be a one-bid phenomenon.
-
![New enhanced FREMM frigate delivered to Italian Navy]()
New enhanced FREMM frigate delivered to Italian Navy
The frigate, Spartaco Schergat, is equipped for a broad range of missions, including anti-submarine warfare.
