US Navy Tests Unmanned Systems During Integrated Battle Program Exercise

The U.S. Navy has tested a Sheild AI-made drone designed to provide manned and unmanned sea and air capabilities.

During the Integrated Battle Program 23.1 exercise off the California coast, the service launched the V-BAT unmanned aerial vehicle from a Leidos Seahawk unmanned surface vehicle. Cmdr. Jerry Daley, the lead official of the Navy Unmanned Surface Vessel Division One, told reporters that IBP 23.1 allowed officials to know more about unmanned systems.

Daley said the V-BAT trials and similar tests are part of the service’s efforts to integrate unmanned systems into fleet operations across the land, sea and air, C4ISRNET reported.

V-BAT is designed to be launched without a runway and with minimal equipment. It has a 10-hour maximum flying time, a 25-lb maximum payload capacity and a maximum flight altitude of 20,000 feet above sea level.

The Navy has its eyes set on manned-unmanned teaming. The concept gained traction in September 2021 when the Navy 5th Fleet formed Task Force 59, an organization that tests artificial intelligence and unmanned technologies.

In one of its missions, Task Force 59 worked with the United Arab Emirates Navy to use AI platforms to detect, identify and classify data captured by UAVs to improve situational awareness. The Navy also planned to expand Task Force 59’s work into the 4th Fleet’s area of operations.

The Navy’s Navigation plan document revealed that the service plans to set up a manned-unmanned team comprising around 150 uncrewed vehicles and over 370 manned ships.