NAVY - Drone warship research, initiated by the Pentagon research group called the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Anti-Submarine Warfare Continuous Trail Vessel (ACTUV) would be able to operate with little supervisory, and as remotely controlled or piloted vessels, depending on the circumstances of specific missions. “We’re looking for test-ready, multi-sensor approaches that push the boundaries of today’s automated sensing systems for unmanned surface vessels,” said Scott Littlefield, DARPA program manager. “Enhancing the ability of these kinds of vessels to sense their environment in all weather and traffic conditions, day or night, would significantly advance our ability to conduct a range of military missions.”
DARPA says the so-called drone ships will be 132 feet long and likely cost about $20 million, significantly less than the billion-dollar manned warships currently in use.
The development of the ACTUV aligns with the “culture change” described by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said at the Navy League’s Sea Air Space symposium at National Harbor, Maryland.
“Unmanned systems, particularly autonomous ones, have to be the new normal in ever-increasing areas,” Maybus said.
