Unmanned Systems

Navy officers this week expressed confidence the service can adapt to new legislation that prevents it from including a vertical launching system on a major unmanned surface vessel concept design.

Pentagon acquisition chief Ellen Lord provided new details today on the U.S. effort to field counter-drone technology, saying the military is working with foreign allies to test and evaluate a variety of potential systems.

The Army last week delivered to Ft. Sill, OK, the first three of 30 Leader Follower vehicles to be sent over this month. The 5th Transportation Company, 100th Brigade Support Battalion will now begin training with and evaluating the systems.

The Air Force Scientific Advisory Board in fiscal year 2020 is conducting three studies under the direction of the service's secretary that focus on modern communications technology, autonomous systems and space applications, according to a notice published in December.

The Navy last month directed its top surface warfare officer to develop the concepts of operations for two major unmanned surface vessel programs, according to a Dec. 19 message to the fleet.

Congressional appropriators are supporting the Navy's plans to buy two prototype unmanned surface vessels, but barred the service from initially pursuing conceptual designs that include a vertical launch system.

Lawmakers are moving to slow the Navy's push for a new unmanned, corvette-sized vessel the service highlighted in its fiscal year 2020 budget, a move that follows a year of conversations between lawmakers and Navy officers about the maturity of unmanned systems.

As the Army reaches an inflection point with autonomy and artificial intelligence to face near-peer competitors, the service is encouraging traditional defense contractors to take it in stride by including new technology requirements in requests for proposals.

The Navy plans to stand up a second developmental squadron for unmanned underwater vehicles and turn its current squadron into a major command, according to the service's admiral overseeing submarine forces.