Advancing Maritime Operations through Autonomous Systems
Modern Military | Future Arms & Current News
MQ-4Cs at Palmdale. Chad Slattery – https://www.flickr.com/photos/usnavy/8803726198/
Two Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial vehicles are seen on the tarmac at a Northrop Grumman test facility in Palmdale, Calif. Triton is undergoing flight testing as an unmanned maritime surveillance vehicle. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman by Chad Slattery/Released) 130521-O-ZZ999-110
Although most large military UAVs are fixed-wing aircraft, rotorcraft designs (i.e., RUAVs) such as this MQ-8B Fire Scout are also used.
Technological advancements are reshaping the maritime domain, with the U.S. Navy pioneering autonomous systems to address contemporary challenges in warfare. To harness the power of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), meticulous and strategic integration is imperative.
A Northrop Grumman X-47B unmanned combat aircraft demonstrator of the US Navy refuels in flight from a tanker aircraft.
Increasingly, naval forces are viewing USVs not just as supplementary equipment, but as pivotal assets in enhancing domain awareness. A prime example is the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) that oversees regions including the Middle East and parts of Asia. Under Task Force 59, established in late 2021, there has been significant experimentation with AI-enhanced USVs. Collaborating with academic experts, industry leaders, and international allies, the task force has been assessing these technologies’ potential to tackle multifaceted security threats and boost U.S. military prowess. Presently, the focus lies in enhancing surveillance in the Gulf, with an ambitious target of deploying a hundred USVs to monitor Iranian movements by the close of 2023.
However, another strategic move came in April when the Navy revealed its plans to extend this groundbreaking technology to regions falling under the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) jurisdiction, aiming to optimize the utilization of available resources in these vast maritime zones.
While Task Force 59 oversees approximately 2.5 million square miles of oceanic territory, SOUTHCOM’s purview is exponentially larger, spanning sixteen million square miles. With fewer military resources at its disposal and the vast expanse of water it oversees, the technology integration challenge is magnified for SOUTHCOM.
A flight controller run on either CleanFlight or BaseFlight firmware for multirotor UAVs.
SOUTHCOM’s operations could be significantly enhanced with a robust USV deployment. The Navy’s 4th Fleet (C4F) predominantly focuses on thwarting illicit drug activities in the region. Recent mission expansions also include addressing the menace of illegal and unreported fishing, tied to a spectrum of transnational crimes. The emergence of criminals leveraging fishing vessels to smuggle drugs, weapons, and even humans, underscores the challenge. While collaborations with regional naval forces and law enforcement agencies exist, the magnitude of these tasks surpasses the capabilities of the present force. Enter USVs – their cost-effectiveness combined with low human resource demands could revolutionize naval operations in these resource-limited waters.
Despite the evident advantages, certain challenges prevail. USVs, despite being versatile and discreet, lack the capability to inspect or confiscate suspect vessels – a task which, as per maritime regulations, necessitates the presence of a U.S. Coast Guard legal team. Therefore, while USVs can supplement and augment traditional naval operations, they cannot replace them.
MQ-4C Triton Test Flight with Multi-Intelligence Upgrade.
To optimize their deployment, USVs should be positioned in known illicit trafficking corridors to collect data and identify suspicious activities. Their deployment should complement traditional naval assets to broaden the Navy’s surveillance capabilities.
Funding poses a second challenge. Given the region’s relatively low-priority status, consistent financial backing remains uncertain, even though USVs offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional naval assets. One possible solution is the contractor-owned, contractor-operated (COCO) model. While it reduces upfront costs and maintenance burdens for the Navy, it does introduce complexities in operational continuity, especially if contractual terms need adjustments.
For sustained funding, a comprehensive and strategic plan for USV deployment is crucial, which should also entail defining metrics to evaluate the USVs’ effectiveness.
Lastly, data management emerges as another challenge. The sheer volume of data collected from USVs might strain C4F’s current analytical capabilities. Incorporating AI could aid in processing and flagging relevant content. Yet, the integration of AI remains a work in progress, and in the interim, data management requires a solution.
To conclude, while USVs present a promising future for maritime operations, their success lies in thoughtful integration and planning, ensuring they are used to their utmost potential.
