Unmanned Vessels Proliferate in today's "Hybrid Navy Extravaganza"

Technology companies and shipyards are vying for attention as the US unmanned navy grows in size and sophistication.

No too long ago, US Navy Secretary John Phelan said: “If the last few years of conflict have taught us anything, it is that we will not win the wars of the future with the platforms of the past.” The nation’s ability to deter future conflict or to prevail, if necessary, will benefit from high quantities of low-cost air, surface and subsea unmanned systems. These will be used for close-range reconnaissance or one-way strike missions along with lower numbers of high-cost sophisticated systems with surveillance and/or mid- to long-range strike capability.

Kraken Technology Group is one of many companies ready with solutions. Anduril will build the small, mass-producible K5 KRAKEN and K7 SABRE unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and integrate payloads and its AI-powered Lattice autonomy software in the US, configuring each vessel for the full range of Navy missions.

Blue Water Autonomy is one of many companies forming partnerships to scale production of USVs. The company recently introduced its Liberty Class, a 190-foot autonomous ship designed for the US Navy, currently under construction at Conrad Shipyard. It comes in support of the