By Alexandria Elias, PhD, Warrior Contributor
Usually the conversation around military drones is focused on air or ground tech, yet recent developments in the Pacific have put the searchlights on the U.S. Navy’s “Ghost Fleet” of unmanned ships. This will have a potentially large impact on American and Japanese naval operations, as well as regional rivalries between American allies and China.
The Ghost Fleet is an ongoing Navy project to enable unmanned ships to autonomously and semi-autonomously perform multi-vessel operations. Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) under development range from small solar-powered surveillance platforms to Medium-class ships capable of firing torpedoes. The Navy also wants to acquire a fleet of larger ships, called Large Unmanned Surface Vessels (LUSVs), are between 200 and 300 feet long with a full load displacement of 1000 to 2000 tons. This would make the proposed ships roughly the size of a corvette, larger than a patrol boat but smaller than a frigate. LUSVs would be equipped with a vertical launch system (VLS) with 16 to 32 missile tubes.
Two LUSVs currently operated by Unmanned Surface Vessel Division ONE (USVDIV-1), Mariner and Ranger, arrived in Fleet Activities Yokosuka on September 18. The LUSVs–along with medium class USVs (MUSVs) Sea Hunter and Sea Hawk–are now operating out of Japan for the first time, as part of a nautical roadshow. The exercise, Integrated Battle Problem (IPB) 23.3, is focused on testing manned-unmanned cooperation. The Navy claims that this joint exercise with allies will test and build new capabilities that will “ensure regional security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.” The test is also a projection of power; China is ramping up its unmanned vessel development as well. This isn’t surprising. China has already been creative when securing its sphere of influence in the South China Sea, including building new islands, erecting floating barriers, and greyzone operations by law enforcement and the Maritime Militia.
What USVs offer China, the U.S. and their allies is the ability to conduct operations while minimizing personnel. The U.S. LUSVs are more accurately called minimally or optionally manned vessels, usually carrying a crew of six. The ships operate autonomously for the most part, but the crew has the capability of taking over when needed. U.S. LUSVs and smaller USVs are connected in a resilient mesh network by Silvis radios. A resilient mesh network is just that–resilient. If one part of the network goes down, the system is capable of self healing and continuing operations. This is critical in maritime applications, where in-person network support can be difficult to impossible to provide. The drone fleet also incorporates drone aircraft that can be launched from both manned and unmanned vessels.
Jostling between major powers in the Pacific is all about boundary pushing, and the emergence of unmanned surface vessels makes pushing boundaries easier. These drone ships are capable of tracking China’s own fleet, as well as providing kinetic options. While there is no indication that Navy drones will be using munitions in the near future, the fact that attack-capable LUSVs are now operating in the Pacific sends a clear message to American rivals.
