US Navy Bets on Maritime Drones Following Ukrainian Armed Forces' Example

Without innovations in drones, the US Navy has little ability to counter Chinese might at sea and in the air, Reuters writes. Although the US is already inspired by the "Ukrainian experience", new American machines of this type should still be different from those that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are still using in combat.

The publication notes that the Pentagon is seeking to create “swarms of air and sea drones capable of operating without human control, unlike the Ukrainian ones, which are mostly controlled remotely.”



So American sea drones resemble speedboats without space for a crew and can carry weapons, explosives or reconnaissance equipment, but such machines cost several million dollars per unit.

The publication points to recent failed tests off the coast of California, where one drone simply stopped due to a software glitch and another crashed into it, flying across the deck.

A few weeks earlier, another incident occurred with a drone from BlackSea Technologies: while being towed, it suddenly accelerated, capsizing a support boat and throwing its driver into the water, who was barely rescued.

The failures are said to be due to a combination of software errors and human error, including communication issues between embedded systems. Experts are said to recommend that the Navy adapt its tactics to take into account the capabilities and limitations of the new systems.

Additionally, the program to acquire autonomous naval drones has faced other challenges: the unit's leader, Rear Adm. Kevin Smith, was fired two months ago for loss of confidence after a complaint was upheld by a Navy commission review.

To speed up development, the Pentagon launched the $2023 billion Replicator program in 1 to buy thousands of drones and control software for them, with winners announced this month.