An unmanned US Navy ship fired “lethal munitions” in international waters in the Middle East, marking the first time such an exercise has been conducted in the region.
The exercise, called “Digital Talon,” was conducted by the Navy’s Task Force 59, a team focused on unmanned and artificial intelligence, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command said in a news release. On Oct. 23, task force members identified and targeted simulated enemy forces using a method called “manned-unmanned teaming,” officials said, firing live ammunition from an unmanned vessel to destroy a target boat.
The system “successfully achieved direct hits every time,” according to the press release. The firing was monitored by a human operator on land who “made the operational decisions.”
The unmanned system is fixed on the target boat. US Naval Forces Central Command / US 5th Fleet
A video shared by the Navy showed an unmanned boat with two outboard motors zooming across the waves. The footage also showed naval operators monitoring the process from a remote location. Once the target is acquired, a missile is fired from what the Navy calls the Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System at the stern of the unmanned boat. The video also showed the moment of successful impact.
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“We are focused on the operational application of new, cutting-edge unmanned systems and artificial intelligence technologies,” Vice Admiral Brad Cooper said in the release. “During Digital Talon, we took a significant step forward, taking our capabilities to the ‘next level’ beyond mere maritime domain knowledge, which has traditionally been a focus of Task Force 59. We have proven that these unmanned platforms can increase fleet lethality. In doing so, we strengthen regional maritime security and strengthen deterrence against malicious activities.”
An unmanned US Navy ship fired “lethal munitions” in international waters near the Middle East on October 23, 2023. US Naval Forces Central Command / US 5th Fleet
This is the second time in as many months that the Navy has successfully demonstrated such capabilities, Cooper said. For several days in September, several unmanned water and aerial vehicles were able to track ships and small boats from the Iranian Navy and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps while conducting routine patrols in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Cooper said “twelve different unmanned platforms” were integrated with manned ships for this exercise.
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