The U.S. Navy (USN) will deploy its first large and highly autonomous unmanned surface vessel (USV) in the latest edition of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) multinational exercise in and around the Hawaiian Islands and the Southern California region on June 29 through August 4th.
RIMPAC 2022 will involve around 25,000 people from 26 countries. The exercise will also include 38 surface ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft and ground assets from nine national army forces.
The U.S. Navy has fielded several large USV prototypes, including the USV Nomad and Ranger—which serve as testbeds for its documented programs for medium and large unmanned surface ships (MUSV and LUSV)—and the Sea Hunter.
“Unmanned systems provide additional operational capabilities and augment the Navy’s traditional combat capabilities,” the service said via its official RIMPAC social media account.
USVs are assigned to the newly formed Unmanned Surface Vehicle Division One (USVDIV One), which was established in May as a dedicated unmanned surface vehicle experimental and fleet advocacy unit under SURFDEVRON One in San Diego.
“In order to meet the challenges of the 21st century, we must continue to innovate the surface force,” said USVDIV One Commander Jeremiah Daley at the force’s inauguration. “USVDIV One will accelerate the delivery of reliable and reliable unmanned systems and increasingly capable manned platforms to the fleet.”
“USVDIV One will be a catalyst for innovation as we deploy unmanned surface capabilities in the Pacific Fleet,” said Lt.
“The implementation of unmanned systems will increase decision-making speed and lethality to enhance our operational advantage,” added Lt. Gen. Kitchener.
Under the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Ghost Fleet Overlord program, the USV Nomad and Ranger are being used to demonstrate technologies that will help accelerate the USN’s adoption of unmanned and autonomous systems. The USV is based on a modified commercial hull with customized perception and auto-navigation systems, self-monitoring and damage control systems for extended missions, and a command and control and communications architecture.
Meanwhile, the Sea Hunter and sister ship Sea Hawk were originally developed under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Anti-Submarine Warfare Continuous Track Unmanned Vehicle (ACTUV) program. These have been used extensively to test a range of technologies, including those optimized for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and surface ISR missions.
While the U.S. Navy has not disclosed the specific role of USVs in RIMPAC 2022, it is likely that the maritime vehicle will be used to conduct reconnaissance ahead of the fleet and enhance situational awareness for surface combatants.
by Jr Ng
