The Autonomous Future
of Naval Warfare

In 2018, Britain and other NATO member states agreed to collaborate on the development of unmanned maritime systems (UMS), in order to combat the continuing threat of mines, as well as an increasing threat posed by Russian submarines. Securing freedom of movement in the North Atlantic is top of the agenda for ensuring NATOs nuclear deterrent, and the introduction of more UMS vessels will assist in the deployment of sensors and communication equipment that can coordinate and distribute intelligence.

Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV)

Unmanned surface vessels are significantly cheaper to run; they also offer a greater degree of persistence than manned capabilities, and greatly reduce the risks to human life in hazardous operations. They've traditionally been chosen for simple roles such as oceanographic surveying, but advanced UMS are now being developed for more complex and dangerous missions. The Royal Navy's NavyX initiative is intended to accelerate the introduction of UMS into the fleet, with Type 23 frigates demonstrating how UMS can be controlled from their integrated combat system.

Missions that used to be reserved for manned vessels, such as mine, surface and anti-submarine warfare will in future be carried out by USV, and the US Navy has already started rolling out new vessels with fully integrated UMS. Their latest class of aircraft carrier deploys nearly 700 fewer sailors than previous generations, and the Littoral Combat Ships USV fleet is capable of 48 hour persistence at speeds of up to 65km per hour. The US Navy is also working with MIT on developing technology for automated flight deck operations, which could further reduce the amount of manpower required.