After RIMPAC, sailor feedback shows evolving view of unmanned vessels: Officials

After RIMPAC, sailor feedback shows evolving view of unmanned vessels: Officials
After RIMPAC, sailor feedback shows evolving view of unmanned vessels: Officials

Sailors operating the USVs at RIMPAC were more concerned about what the drones could do, rather than how they were controlled.

Navy starts building hub for surface, subsurface drones

Navy starts building hub for surface, subsurface drones
Navy starts building hub for surface, subsurface drones

The new facility will house the most high-profile, upcoming unmanned maritime systems.

Hypersonics, Unmanned Ship Teaming Ahead for Zumwalt Destroyer

Hypersonics, Unmanned Ship Teaming Ahead for Zumwalt Destroyer
Hypersonics, Unmanned Ship Teaming Ahead for Zumwalt Destroyer

Navy officials said this week that the destroyer, which still hasn’t been deployed almost five years after she was christened, might find a place in the fleet after all.

Navy’s Unmanned Plan Inches Forward; Ships To Have Crew Quarters

Navy’s Unmanned Plan Inches Forward; Ships To Have Crew Quarters
Navy’s Unmanned Plan Inches Forward; Ships To Have Crew Quarters

“It is too early to say where we will end up across that portfolio, but we are investigating a range of options via our prototyping efforts,” Capt. Pete Small told the virtual Surface Navy convention

Navy Plans Hammerhead Mines To Box In Chinese, Russian Subs

Navy Plans Hammerhead Mines To Box In Chinese, Russian Subs
Navy Plans Hammerhead Mines To Box In Chinese, Russian Subs

The Hammerhead mine would be delivered to sites by underwater drones, and “detect, classify, and defeat” manned or unmanned submarines, the Navy says.

EXCLUSIVE Navy Chief Demands Network Linking All Ships ‘This Decade’

EXCLUSIVE Navy Chief Demands Network Linking All Ships ‘This Decade’
EXCLUSIVE Navy Chief Demands Network Linking All Ships ‘This Decade’

The Navy isn’t part of an Army/Air Force project to build a new tactical network, though the CNO said he wants the Navy’s version to “plug into JADC2” once it’s up and running. 

DoD Ponders 581-Ship Fleet, As Navy Shipyard Problems Persist

DoD Ponders 581-Ship Fleet, As Navy Shipyard Problems Persist
DoD Ponders 581-Ship Fleet, As Navy Shipyard Problems Persist

“We don’t have 20 years to do this,” said Rep. Rob Wittman. “We need to be modernizing our yards now…the upgrades need to be done at a faster pace.”

USS Vinson Flies F-35s & Quietly Readies For New Refueling Drone

USS Vinson Flies F-35s & Quietly Readies For New Refueling Drone
USS Vinson Flies F-35s & Quietly Readies For New Refueling Drone

Headlines have celebrated the carrier’s new F-35s — but the Navy also added upgrades to the Vinson for the MQ-25 refueling drone, which could be a game-changer for future ops.

How The US Is Preparing To Hunt New Chinese, Russian Subs

How The US Is Preparing To Hunt New Chinese, Russian Subs
How The US Is Preparing To Hunt New Chinese, Russian Subs

“It’s pretty well-known now that our homeland is no longer a sanctuary,” Vice Adm. Daryl Caudle, Submarine Forces Atlantic says. “So we have to be prepared here to conduct high-end combat operations in local waters.”

Navy’s New Unmanned Fleet Likely To Hunt Chinese & Russian Subs

Navy’s New Unmanned Fleet Likely To Hunt Chinese & Russian Subs
Navy’s New Unmanned Fleet Likely To Hunt Chinese & Russian Subs

Tracking and harassing submarines will likely be a key job for the new generation of networked, unmanned ships.

Navy Awards Study Contracts On Large Unmanned Ship – As Congress Watches Closely

Navy Awards Study Contracts On Large Unmanned Ship – As Congress Watches Closely
Navy Awards Study Contracts On Large Unmanned Ship – As Congress Watches Closely

Today’s deals for designs — Large Unmanned Surface Vessels displacing 2-3,000 tons — reflect the ‘take it slow’ approach being forced on the service.

Navy Inks Deal For New Unmanned Fleet

Navy Inks Deal For New Unmanned Fleet
Navy Inks Deal For New Unmanned Fleet

The $34 million deal marks the service’s first real thrust to get unmanned ships into the water, despite Congressional worries the service is moving too fast.