{"id":32689,"date":"2024-04-11T14:37:08","date_gmt":"2024-04-11T14:37:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2024\/04\/11\/project-overmatchs-small-says-ew-is-killer-app-for-unmanned-tech\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:43:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:43:27","slug":"project-overmatchs-small-says-ew-is-killer-app-for-unmanned-tech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/unmanned\/2024\/04\/11\/project-overmatchs-small-says-ew-is-killer-app-for-unmanned-tech\/","title":{"rendered":"Project Overmatch\u2019s Small says EW is \u2018killer app\u2019 for unmanned tech"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. \u2014 Unmanned technologies for years have been used to scout dangerous areas, schlep much-needed supplies and deliver destructive payloads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But for one U.S. Navy commander<\/a>, there\u2019s another more-promising application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor unmanned systems, I think electronic warfare- and cyber-related mission areas are the \u2018killer app,\u2019 if you will,\u201d Rear Adm. Doug Small said April 10 at the Sea-Air-Space defense conference here. \u201cThat is the growth imperative.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Small is the leader of Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, what he calls the service\u2019s \u201cGeek Squad.\u201d He\u2019s also the head of Project Overmatch<\/a>, which seeks to digitally link sailors, Marines and their vessels over vast distances. Little has been shared about the project since its inception in 2020, with officials attributing the secrecy to Russian and Chinese monitoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outfitting unmanned vehicles or vessels with jammers, spoofers and other gear capable of wreaking electronic havoc is \u201cabsolutely critical,\u201d according to Small. EW represents a battle over the electromagnetic spectrum, which militaries for decades have relied upon to communicate, identify friend from foe, and guide weapons to their targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Rear
Rear Adm. Doug Small, the U.S. Navy\u2019s Project Overmatch boss, pauses before answering a question about unmanned technologies at the 2024 Sea-Air-Space conference in National Harbor, Maryland. (Colin Demarest\/C4ISRNET)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese smaller vehicles, commercial vehicles, have the capability to provide effects,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd if we architect it correctly, and make sure that, again, we can bring those AI-enabled autonomous behaviors<\/a> to those vehicles, there are any number of missions that we can accomplish.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Navy is investing in unmanned systems \u2014 on the water, as well as above and below it \u2014 to augment existing and near-future firepower. A service strategy known as the Navigation Plan at one point included an outline of a fleet comprising roughly 373 manned ships and 150 uncrewed vessels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defense News previously reported the Navy was realizing its manned-unmanned teams<\/a> in three phases: experimentation from fiscal 2024 to 2028; deployment in fiscal 2029 through 2033; and full-fledged operations in the years thereafter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the key things is establishing and expanding this naval operational architecture throughout the Navy, to include unmanned systems. Part of our role is extending that connectivity to these unmanned systems,\u201d Small said. \u201cOur North Star is a hybrid fleet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday<\/a> last year said unmanned vessels with the ability to confuse adversary electronics, spy on distant activities and coordinate the flow of fighting would play an increasingly important role in the service\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work to realize such a concept, he said at the time, is underway.<\/p>\n\n\n\t