The stealth cruiser uss michael monsoor
sporting what appeared to be an
experimental communication system on its
flight deck, led the other ships from
destroyer squadron 21 into the pacific
ocean. What followed was a series of
experiments and mock battles combining
manned and unmanned systems. Robot boats sailing alongside nearshore
littoral combat ships. An attack submarine launching an
underwater drone. UAVs flying overhead the whole time.
The so-called fleet problem was a
preview of the navy's possible future as
it reconfigures for high-tech warfare
against chinese forces. The people's liberation army is
deploying anti-access systems including
submarines, bombers and missiles that
could make the western pacific a very
dangerous place for american ships. The navy is betting on drones to help
solve the anti-access problem. The
service has proposed to add hundreds of
unmanned ships and submarines to its
existing fleet of around 300 man vessels.
The idea is for robots to scout for
chinese ships. Extending the us fleet
sensor range and helping man shooters
destroyers and submarines stay outside
the PLA's own engagement zone. Great plan, would it work in the real world?
The
april fleet problem is a strong
indication it just might. After several days of experimentation
the navy on sunday staged an impressive
test of arguably its most promising
manned unmanned concept. The amphibious ship USS Anchorage
discouraged a barge simulating an enemy
warship. The barge apparently carried emitters
duplicating radios, radars and other
electronics.
The destroyer uss john finn stood off
over the horizon exactly how far away is
a secret and initiated a hunt for the
pretend enemy ship. UAV;s and robot boats crisscrossed the
ocean. To avoid detection they kept their
active sensors off. Instead they used their passive
electronic receivers to listen for the
enemy's own electronic emissions.
The drones pinpointed the barge and
passed the data to a satellite which
related to John Finn. The destroyer fired an SM-6 missile. The 5 million missile which can hit
targets on the sea or in the air struck
the barge well beyond the line of sight, according to the navy. It's unclear just how far the missile
traveled.
In theory the supersonic SM-6 can strike
targets as far away as 300 miles. The distance involved is one reason to
celebrate. the other reason is that none of the
vehicles involved in the shoot ever
turned on their radars. They remained as stealthy as possible
throughout the engagement. Experts agree range and stealth are
prerequisites to fighting chinese forces. The april fleet problem indicates the
u.s navy is taking these qualities
seriously.
If there's a weakness in the navy's
emerging manned unmanned team, it's
communication. If robots, satellites and manned ships
can't talk together they can't fight
together. The fleet problem highlights the
importance of links between sensors, said Eric Wertheim author of combat fleets of
the world.
It's one thing to connect robots and man
ships and sink a barge in a test. It's another thing to pull off the same
trick thousands of miles from u.s shores
in the chaos of battle with an enemy who
has their own tricks. But you can't deploy new technology and
tactics if you don't test them first. The fleet problem is one part of a
process that could end with the us fleet, sailing into battle behind a deadly
armada of stealthy drones. This is a really positive first sign, Wertheim said.
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