WASHINGTON — The head of the U.S. Navy’s Fleet Forces Command has ordered the Service’s surface force to develop a concept of operations for both the large and medium, unmanned surface vessels in development, according to a December 19 message seen by Defense News. The message, which was coordinated with U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Pacific Fleet, directs the surface fleet’s Surface Development Squadron to develop concepts for “the organization, manning, training, equipping, sustaining, and introduction and operational integration of the Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicle and Large Unmanned Surface Vessel with individual afloat units as well as with Carrier Strike Groups, Expeditionary Strike Groups, and Surface Action Groups.”
A rendering of DARPA''s Sea Hunter, which has been transferred to the U.S. Navy''s Surface Development Squadron. The squadron has been tasked with formulating a comprehensive concept of operations for unmanned ships (U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency).
May 20, 2020 | Originally published by Defense News on January 14, 2020