UAV and Cruiser Teaming in Unprecedented Exercise

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The integration between unmanned and manned capabilities provides an operations approach to strengthening manned unmanned teaming, adding a warfighting advantage. In an unprecedented exercise testing new unmanned systems, the U.S. Navy is pairing an MQ-9B Sea Guardian drone with a guided-missile cruiser capable of firing anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine missiles as a hunter-killer team. 

The medium-altitude drone is finding targets for the Cruiser Princeton to destroy during this week’s Unmanned Integrated Battle Problem 21 exercise off the coast of San Diego.

“Using sonobuoys and other assets, the Sea Guardian identified contacts and reported locations remotely to the commander on board the cruiser,” the Navy announced. The ship is set to fire on the targets later in the exercise.

The Navy is using seven unmanned technologies, including the Sea Guardian; the MQ-8B Fire Scout; the Vanilla ultra-long endurance, mid-sized drone; underwater and surface autonomous vehicles; and assets from the Naval research lab’s “super swarm” project.

Ten ships are taking part in the exercise, including the Princeton, five guided-missile destroyers, one submarine and two littoral combat ships. The service is also using five manned aircraft, including the EA-18 Growler and P-8 Poseidon.

The Army and Air Force are conducting similar experiments linking weapons and capabilities for better centralized oversight and control, according to military.com.