U.S. Navy leaders agree: "Embrace the robots"

Axios

08-03-2025

The cross-country chatter these past weeks, at the Surface Navy Association conference and at WEST, proves one thing: The unmanned obsession is very real inside the U.S. Navy.
Why it matters: Look at Ukraine and the Black Sea beatings it hands out. Look at the Red Sea and Houthi persistence. Look at the Pentagon's J-books, the online think pieces and where elite units are splurging.
The future — mechanical, intelligent, overwhelming — is today smacking us in the face.
Driving the news: U.S. Navy Special Warfare Command boss Rear Adm. Milton Sands told crowds in San Diego the military must "embrace the robots," as "machine-on-machine fighting" rages and humans stick to safer margins.
"Manned-unmanned teaming is the future," he said.
Zoom in: The Navigation Plans of Adm. Lisa Franchetti and her predecessor, retired Adm. Michael Gilday, back this up.
On the water, drone boats and robo-subs are augmenting the firepower of more traditional, more expensive ships. They are also monitoring around the clock far-flung places otherwise ignored.
L3Harris Technologies is mounting onto vessels its Vampire weapon used in Ukraine. Live-fire trials are expected by April.
"If you can take out one-third or two-thirds or three-quarters of threats with a $25,000 missile — versus a million-dollar missile — that's helpful," Jon Rambeau, president of integrated mission systems, told Axios on the conference sidelines.
Saab is working with Microsoft, Hidden Level, Second Front and others on maritime autonomy and the Enforcer 3, a souped-up Combat Boat 90.
During an exclusive tour of the ship, docked outside the San Diego Convention Center, Second Front chief revenue officer TJ Rowe told Axios: "We need an ability to push software capabilities to the edge, whether that is a maritime platform or airborne platform."
Saildrone, meanwhile, is supplying 20 Voyager unmanned surface vessels for Operation Southern Spear, to monitor illegal activity in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean. It's the single largest deployment yet.
In the air, drones have proven their prowess. From deadly strikes to stealthy surveillance to remote resupply, their applications abound.
"We will fly MQ-25 in '25. You can quote me on that," Vice Adm. Daniel Cheever, commander of Naval Air Forces, said at WEST.
Boeing years ago won an $805 million contract to design, build and deliver the MQ-25 Stingray, an unmanned tanker. The Navy in August said the first control room was installed aboard the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush.
"We will fly that platform in '25, get that thing on the carrier in '26 and start integrating that thing," Cheever added. "That unlocks the future of manned-unmanned teaming."
Separately, the Marine Corps' updated aviation plan hails unmanned aircraft as essential.
What they're saying: "Twenty years ago, there were articles [saying] precision might be the new mass," 7th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Fred Kacher said. "Well, I think mass is the new mass, to be quite honest with you."
Yes, but: All these systems must work together, in sync with tech from other militaries and in places flooded with jamming and spoofing.
That's no easy feat, and is motivation to get right Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control.
What we're watching: How everything unmanned aids Taiwan's defense — or scares off a Chinese invasion in the first place.
"You've heard my boss' boss, Adm. [Samuel] Paparo, speak to Hellscape," Kacher said. "I'll let his comments stand on their own, because I could not say them better."
Flashback: The Navy last year rolled out the robotics warfare specialist rating, dubbing it"a major milestone" in the "relentless march to achieve a truly hybrid fleet."
Those who go that route are expected to be computer vision, navigation autonomy, artificial intelligence and machine learning gurus.
The bottom line: We are at a tech tipping point, according to Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander of the Pacific Fleet.
And the service, he said at WEST, is already "laying the keel for the hybrid fleet."