{"id":18076,"date":"2020-01-02T22:46:01","date_gmt":"2020-01-02T22:46:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/01\/02\/fleet-commander-directs-the-us-navys-surface-force-to-develop-concepts-for-unmanned-ships\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:42:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:42:08","slug":"fleet-commander-directs-the-us-navys-surface-force-to-develop-concepts-for-unmanned-ships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2020\/01\/02\/fleet-commander-directs-the-us-navys-surface-force-to-develop-concepts-for-unmanned-ships\/","title":{"rendered":"Fleet commander directs US Navy\u2019s surface force to develop concepts for unmanned ships"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The head of the U.S. Navy\u2019s Fleet Forces Command has ordered the service\u2019s surface force to develop a concept of operations for both the large and medium unmanned surface vessels<\/a> in development, according to a Dec. 19 message seen by Defense News.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The message, which was coordinated with U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Pacific Fleet, directs the surface fleet\u2019s Surface Development Squadron<\/a> to develop concepts for \u201cthe organization, manning, training, equipping, sustaining, and the introduction and operational integration of the Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicle and Large Unmanned Surface Vessel with individual afloat units as well as with Carrier Strike Groups, Expeditionary Strike Groups, and Surface Action Groups.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The message comes after a long battle with Congress<\/a> over funding for unmanned surface combatants, during which lawmakers expressed skepticism that the Navy was knowledgeable enough about the technology for which it was seeking funding. Ultimately Congress appropriated funds for the Navy to buy two large unmanned surface vessels, but lawmakers forbade the service from equipping the vessels with vertical launch tubes, as the Navy intended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The concepts of operations is meant to define what would be considered \u201cinitial operating capability\u201d for the medium and large USVs and goes on to define what those platforms are intended to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMedium Unmanned Surface Vehicle will be a high-endurance vessel with capacity for carrying various modular payloads,\u201d the message read. \u201cLarge Unmanned Surface Vessel will be high-endurance vessel equipped with Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicle will initially focus on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) payloads and electronic warfare (EW) systems, while the Large Unmanned Surface Vessel will focus on surface warfare (SUW) and strike missions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The message directs the Surface Development Squadron, which was created last year to incorporate new technologies such as the DDG-1000<\/a> and Sea Hunter<\/a> into the force, to examine several areas of consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group is to examine command and control for the platforms, as well as potential challenges with interoperability and communications; examine issues with basing, maintaining and supporting the new platforms; look at what the vessels will need in terms of sensors, computers and various supporting systems; and look at what kind of training and personnel will be needed to support unmanned operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group is directed to have a first draft by February and a final draft prepared by September of this year. Ultimately the group\u2019s work is intended to help inform acquisition requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\t