Maritime autonomous systems can be used a variety of ways to support the combat force. My book to be published this month, The Coming of Maritime Autonomous Systems: Empowering and Enhancing the Kill Web Force discusses how they can complement, supplement or supplant a manned force in specific combat situations.…
Recently, the Hudson Institute hosted a session looking at how the Australian Navy is approaching the opportunity to incorporate maritime autonomous systems in the fleet. In an article by John Grady published by USNI News on February 1, 2024, the session was highlighted. Numerous forward deployed, unmanned, underwater systems “might…
On 27 September 2023, the second Williams Foundation seminar for the year was held at the National Gallery in Canberra. The second provided a case study of building blocks for enhanced deterrent capabilities, namely shaping a multi-domain strike enterprise for the ADF and the support structure for so doing. At…
By Robbin Laird This report focuses on MAWTS-1 in 2023. In 2023, I interviewed the CO of MAWTS-1, Col Eric Purcell, in April and then visited the command in November after the second WTI of the year. This provided a chance to discuss how MAWTS-1 had progressed in working enhanced…
U.S. Marines along with coalition service members, foreign and domestic, all assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One participated in Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 1-24 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, Sept. 10, through Oct. 29, 2023. WTI is an advanced, graduate-level course for selected…
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) is advancing lethality and the combat capabilities of unmanned surface vehicles during Exercise Digital Talon in the international waters surrounding the Arabian Peninsula, Oct. 23. During the exercise, NAVCENT’s Task Force 59, the Navy’s first Unmanned and Artificial Intelligence Task Force, demonstrated the ability…
U.S. Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461 perform preflight checks as part of Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 1-24 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, Oct. 12, 2023. The WTI course is an advanced, graduate-level, seven-week course hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron (MAWTS)…
Exercises REPMUS 23 and Dynamic Messenger 23 took place in Tróia and Sesimbra, Portugal in September 2023. They focused on integrating new maritime unmanned systems into NATO operations, and featured the ability of autonomous underwater vehicles to operate effectively together. REPMUS (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping augmented by Maritime Unmanned Systems)…
