USN exercise integrates manned and unmanned technologies
Sea Hunter MUSV, pictured on 20 April 2021 during UxS IBP 21. (Photo: USN/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Thomas Gooley)
The USN on 19 April commenced its first ever multi-domain exercise exploring manned and unmanned capabilities.
Led by the Pacific Fleet and executed by the 3rd Fleet, Unmanned Integrated Battle Problem 21 (UxS IBP 21) ‘will generate warfighting advantages by integrating multi-domain manned and unmanned capabilities into the most challenging operational scenarios’, the USN stated.
It added: ‘This exercise will directly inform warfighters, warfare centres and developers to further incorporate unmanned capabilities in day-to-day Fleet operations and battle plans.’
UxS IBP 21 is scheduled to finish on 26 April. It features the MQ-8 Fire Scout and SeaGuardian UAVs; the Sea Hunter and Seahawk medium unmanned surface vessels (MUSVs); other USVs such as the Mantas T38 Devil Ray; and small and medium unmanned underwater vehicles with modular payloads.
RADM Robert Gaucher, US Pacific Fleet director of maritime headquarters, noted that ‘by exercising our full range of unmanned capabilities in a Pacific warfighting scenario, UxS IBP21 directly supports US Indo-Pacific Command's warfighting imperative of driving lethality through experimentation’.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
More from Naval Warfare
-
BAE Systems to provide missile tubes to Block VI Virginia-class submarines
The construction of the Block V submarines is still ongoing, with none of the ten boats yet commissioned.
-
Desan Shipyard to build Malaysia’s largest ever coast guard vessel
The vessel should join the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency in 2017.
-
US Navy tests Aegis combat system for hypersonic missile defence
The Arleigh Burke destroyer USS Pinckney undertook the tests against a simulated SM-6 missile.
-
Havelsan sells ADVENT CMS into Chilean Navy frigates
The system is intended to add enhanced operational precision to two ageing vessels.