Navy Breaks Through With AI-Enabled Autonomy But Killer Robot Boats Not Coming Soon

Video Above Navy Connects Air, Surface, Underseas Drones

By Kris Osborn – President & Editor-In-Chief, Warrior Maven

The Navy is surging into future maritime warfare with a fast-growing fleet of increasingly capable, autonomous and networked air, sea and undersea drones to support the services’ Distributed Maritime Operations strategy and pursue technological superiority over potential adversaries.

However, make no mistake, there will not be attacking ocean robots anytime soon when it comes to the application of lethal force. The Navy is pursuing what it calls a “hybrid” fleet.

“Unmanned Platforms are not to Replace Manned Platforms”

Yes .. mines can increasingly find and destroy targets autonomously, surveillance and targeting can increasingly be done without human intervention, yet the Navy is steadfast in its commitment to the concept of manned-unmanned teaming wherein humans are in charge of lethal decision making. 

The technology exists such that Small Unmanned Surface Vessels can be armed for attack and operate in coordination with a fleet of drone boats conducting surveillance, identifying targets and transmitting time-sensitive data to air and undersea domains. 

However, in a manner consistent with Pentagon and Navy doctrine, there will be no killer ocean robots. In fact, the most recent thinking suggests that, even if that were possible, it would simply not be the best tactical approach, given the indispensable faculties associated with human perception. While there may be a place for autonomous programming for purely defensive weapons used in a non-lethal way to intercept approaching missiles for example.