Navy Works To Link Underwater Drones

The Navy is exploring methods of linking unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), so that the devices one day could conduct autonomous swarm-like operations. National Defense Magazine reported this month that the service conducted a series of exercises at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, R.I., in August, which included representation by 30 companies and more than 300 participants. The exercises also focused on linking the devices with human-crewed submarines, surface vessels and aircraft. Someday in the not-too-distant future, UUVs could remain deployed for months to years at a time – conducting reconnaissance missions and combat-related operations – while their human monitor-operators remain far from harm’s way.