US Navy Drone Fleet Meant to Deter China Faces Setbacks
The U.S. Navy’s ambitious initiative to build a fleet of autonomous maritime drones aimed at deterring China is encountering serious technical and organizational challenges.
During a recent test off the California coast, one drone stalled due to a software glitch. As officials tried to get it moving, another drone collided with the stalled vessel, vaulted over its deck, and plunged into the water—an event captured on video. Weeks earlier, a separate test ended with the captain of a support boat being thrown into the water after a BlackSea drone unexpectedly accelerated, causing the boat to capsize. The captain was rescued and declined medical treatment.
These failures have put the Navy’s drone acquisition program under pressure. The Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit has paused a nearly $20 million contract with L3Harris, which supplies autonomy software, and the maritime drone procurement unit is undergoing review following the dismissal of its top admiral.
Despite these setbacks, the Navy continues to push ahead with high-stakes programs like the $1 billion Replicator initiative, working with companies such as BlackSea Technologies and Saronic to develop advanced autonomous vessels.
Autonomous warfare expert Bryan Clark of the Hudson Institute warns that the Navy must adapt its tactics to reflect what these systems can—and cannot—do.
#USNavy #Drone #Military #GlobalPolitics #Geopolitics
[ad_2]
source
