The U.S. Navy is moving away from the optionally manned vessel concept as it refines its vision for unmanned platforms that will operate alongside traditional surface ships, USNI News reported Friday. Officials said the service now prefers designs that keep sailors entirely off board.
Speaking at an event at the U.S. Naval Institute, Capt. Matt Lewis, program manager for unmanned maritime systems, said the change stems from the complexity and cost that come with designing ships to accommodate crews. He noted that the Navy’s recent presolicitation for a Modular Attack Surface Craft, or MASC, encourages proposals that remove the need for manned operations.
“The solicitation that went out for industry… it was open, and we are eager to get proposals as we review them, to look at the proposals that don’t have people on board,” Lewis shared.
Lewis is a speaker at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Navy Summit, where naval and maritime leaders will gather to address the most critical challenges and opportunities facing the U.S. Navy. Register now to learn about the latest advancements in technology, policy and strategy designed to ensure a secure future and a ready naval force.
Capt. Garrett Miller, who leads the San Diego-based Surface Development Group One and oversees the Navy’s experimental unmanned fleet, was more direct about the shift. “We definitely want unmanned. Period,” Miller said.
According to the presolicitation notice, the Navy is seeking a vessel that would carry up to two 40-foot shipping containers and cruise at a sailing speed of 25 knots for up to 2,500 nautical miles in sea state four.
Alongside new hardware developments, the Navy is building a career path for unmanned surface warfare officers and training enlisted robotics specialists at Carnegie Mellon University. Rear Adm. Derek Trinque, director of surface warfare, said “the idea is they’re going to be able to operate and maintain robotic and autonomous systems for the fleet.”
Related Articles
Air Force Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson on Friday officially assumed the role of commander of U.S. Africa Command during a change of command ceremony held at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany. Anderson took the helm of Africom from Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, who led efforts to strengthen operational readiness and improve interoperability with African and allied forces when he took command in August 2022. Join U.S. military leaders and industry experts as they discuss international partnerships, coalition warfare, technological advances and more at the Potomac Officers Club’s GovCon International Summit. Save your spot now for this Oct. 16 event! “I am
Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health, said NIH is advancing a unified strategy that seeks to align funding approaches and priorities to address urgent health needs, support a biomedical research workforce and fund scientific research. “A central pillar of this approach is balancing scientific opportunity with mission-critical objectives,” Bhattacharya said in a statement published Friday. As part of the unified strategy, the NIH director said the agency is prioritizing artificial intelligence, real-world data platforms, alternative testing models and other next-generation tools. Hear experts discuss the latest tech advancements, policies and more at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025
The Department of the Treasury has issued a notice seeking industry input on the potential advanced approaches or strategies for detecting and mitigating illicit finance risks related to digital assets. Treasury Leveraging Advanced Tech According to the request for comment posted on the Federal Register Monday, the department is seeking insights on how financial institutions can leverage artificial intelligence, application program interfaces, digital identity verification and blockchain monitoring in identifying money laundering and other illegal activities involving digital assets. GENIUS Act The notice was issued in accordance with the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act, or GENIUS Act.