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    The Hybrid Horizon: U.S. Navy Charts Course for 500-Ship Future with Unmanned Fleet

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    An Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) conducts a capabilities demonstration at MCB Hawaii” by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

    The United States Navy is boldly steering towards a groundbreaking “Hybrid Fleet,” aiming to bolster its naval prowess with approximately 150 large unmanned maritime vehicles (UMVs), as part of a visionary strategy to amass a 500-ship fleet. Embracing the winds of technological change, this initiative underscores a generational shift in maritime warfare.

    Photo by David on Adobe Stock

    The “Hybrid Fleet” vision, which was crystallized in the Chief of Naval Operations NAVPLAN and Force Design 2045, is propelled by the stark reality of high operational costs and the increasing demands of U.S. Combatant Commanders.

    Congress has exhibited hesitancy, however, in authorizing the Navy’s planned investment in unmanned surface vessels (USVs) until the Naval Service fleshes out a concept-of-operations (CONOPS) to guide their use.

    Skepticism from lawmakers stems from a track record yet to be established in the unmanned arena, as well as the reliance on technologies still in development.

    Despite these challenges, there is no shortage of ambition and progress. In the recent U.S. Naval Institute/Armed Forces and Communications and Electronic Association “West” Symposium, Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Lisa Franchetti, reiterated the commitment to a fleet of 350 manned ships and 150 UMVs, aligning with the lofty goal previously laid out by Admiral Michael Gilday.

    To address concerns and to move toward operationalizing these UMVs, the Navy has put forward a CONOPS that couples various-sized unmanned surface, subsurface, and aerial vehicles.

    The proposed use of large unmanned surface vehicles (LUSVs) as “trucks” to transport smaller unmanned assets into contested battle spaces is particularly innovative. This approach is set to redefine tasks like intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and mine countermeasures (MCM), traditionally manned missions that are resource-intensive and fraught with danger.

    In practical terms, medium unmanned surface vehicles (MUSVs) such as the Textron Common Unmanned Surface Vessel (CUSV), and MARTAC’s unmanned surface vehicles including the MANTAS T12 and the Devil Ray T38 are deemed capable contenders for the CONOPS.

    The Navy has already conducted various exercises, experiments, and demonstrations, proving the viability of these vessels in operational settings.

    Commodore of Task Force 59, Captain Colin Corridan, highlighted the integration of unmanned vehicles for offensive operations, including the successful test firing of weapons off a MARTAC T38 Devil Ray.

    The envisioned operational scenario includes LUSVs carrying several T38 Devil Rays covertly towards the area of operations, where they would deploy to execute ISR or MCM missions. This strategy would keep capital ships out of harm’s way, mitigating the risk associated with anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) threats from peer and near-peer adversaries.

    As the Navy seeks to allay Congressional concerns and advance its unmanned capabilities, packaging these diverse unmanned systems for specific missions emerges as a significant element of strategy.

    031010-N-3236B-001 Northern Arabian Gulf (Oct. 10, 2003) — High Speed Vessel Two (HSV-2) navigates the waters off the coast of Southern Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. HSV-2 is one of three similar ships in its class. U.S. Navy photo by PhotographerÕs Mate 1st Class Ted Banks. (RELEASED)

    The intent to deploy UMVs as part of carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups by the late 2020s is both an immediate response to operational challenges and a strategic investment in the future of naval warfare.

    031104-N-0000S-001 At sea with High Speed Vessel Two (HSV 2) Nov. 4, 2003 — High Speed Vessel Two (HSV 2) Swift is participating in the West African Training Cruise (WATC) 2004, a regularly scheduled exercise, conducted since 1978, consisting of a series of bilateral interactions between the United States and individual African nations. Host nation participants in this year’s WATC include Cameroon, Ghana, Gambia, Morocco, Senegal, Sierra Leone and South Africa. U.S. Navy photo. (RELEASED)

    The transformative journey towards a hybrid fleet presents a blueprint for the future of maritime power projection. The ambition to not only extend the Navy’s reach but to do so with advanced unmanned technology is at the forefront of modern military strategy.

    As the Navy continues to fine-tune its CONOPS and receive funding for these initiatives, it edges closer to realizing a fleet structure that will shape the very nature of maritime dominance in the 21st century. The U.S. Navy’s trailblazing plan for a hybrid fleet stands as a testament to its adaptability and forward-thinking approach to emerging security concerns, symbolizing a new era in naval warfare.

    Relevant articles:
    A Concept of Operations for the U.S. Navy’s Hybrid Fleet, Center for International Maritime Security
    The U.S. Navy “Hybrid Fleet” Concept, BlueZone Group
    The US Navy’s Designs on a Hybrid Fleet, Ocean News and Technology
    Building and Operating a Hybrid Fleet in the Pacific: A Key Area for U.S. Navy and RAN Cooperation, SLDinfo.com

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