{"id":46158,"date":"2024-05-24T09:02:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-24T09:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/05\/24\/meet-the-navys-newest-sea-drone-squadron\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:20:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:20:17","slug":"meet-the-navys-newest-sea-drone-squadron","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2024\/05\/24\/meet-the-navys-newest-sea-drone-squadron\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Navy\u2019s newest sea drone squadron"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Navy\u2019s surface community welcomed its newest surface drone squadron to the fleet last week during a ceremony at Naval Base San Diego.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadron 3, or \u201cUSVRON Three\u201d in Navy-speak, will oversee an array of small surface drones known as \u201cglobal autonomous reconnaissance craft,\u201d the sea service said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Capt. Derek Rader is the first commanding officer of the newly formed squadron, which will seek to further integrate drone systems into the Navy\u2019s manned fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur Sailors are the essential key for integration of unmanned surface vessels in the Navy and joint construct,\u201d Rader said during the ceremony, according to a Navy release. \u201cThis will be accomplished through experimentation with the fleet testing and doctrine drafted by operators you see today, who embody and execute the warfighting that we need to achieve to enable the full potential of unmanned systems.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The squadron will also fold in the Navy\u2019s newest rating for robotics warfare that was announced earlier this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\t