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The Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) sails
with two T-38 Devil Ray unmanned surface vessels (USV) and an Arabian
Fox MAST-13 USV, all attached to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s
(NAVCENT) Task Force 59, during exercise Digital Talon 2.0 in the
Arabian Gulf, Nov. 27. NAVCENT completed the exercise demonstrating the
ability of unmanned platforms to pair with traditionally crewed ships in
“manned-unmanned teaming” to identify and target hostile forces at sea.

Then, using munitions launched from another unmanned platform, engaged
and destroyed those targets. (US Navy photo)

LCS, Unmanned Systems Pair Up To Advance Lethality In The Middle East
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) continues advancing
lethality at sea, utilizing the Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS
Indianapolis (LCS 17) as a staging base and command center for a host of
unmanned systems during live weapons firing exercises in the
international waters of the central Arabian Gulf, Nov. 27.
Naval News Staff 01 Dec 2023

U.S. Navy press release

Digital Talon 2.0, the second exercise of its type in as many months,
showcased “manned-unmanned teaming” by meshing together Indianapolis,
three unmanned surface vehicles, and an unmanned aerial vehicle to
create a single common operating picture and what is known as a “mesh
network” providing targeting data to all stations taking part in the
exercise.

NAVCENT’s Task Force 59 – the Navy’s first Unmanned and Artificial
Intelligence Task Force – partnered with Indianapolis to demonstrate the
ability of unmanned platforms to pair with traditionally crewed ships.
The manned and unmanned teams identified, targeted, engaged and then
destroyed simulated hostile forces at sea, represented through the use
of a target boat.

“This second iteration of Digital Talon continues building on our
earlier successes. We keep progressing toward fulfilling NAVCENT’s
priorities of deterrence and de-escalation by demonstrating live firing
from a tight ‘manned-unmanned teaming’ model.”

Capt. Colin Corridan, TF-59 commodore

Munitions launched from a Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System aboard
a T-38 Devil Ray USV destroys a training target during exercise Digital
Talon 2 in the Arabian Gulf, Nov. 27. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Marita
Schwab)
In multiple firing events, a T-38 Devil Ray unmanned surface vessel
(USV), equipped with a Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System, and
successfully scored direct hits on the target boat each time. As with
the previous Digital Talon exercise, a human operator ashore at TF-59’s
Robotics Operations Center made the engagement decisions.

The unmanned vehicles taking part in the exercise included a Flexrotor
unmanned aerial vehicle; an Arabian Fox MAST-13 USV; and an additional
T-38 Devil Ray USV.

Digital Talon 2.0 took a significant step forward, Corridan said, noting
the results from this event, “have proven these unmanned platforms
paired with our manned combat ships can enhance fleet lethality. In
doing so, we are strengthening regional maritime security and enhancing
deterrence against malign activity.”

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet’s area of operations
encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes
the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and
parts of the Indian Ocean. This expanse, comprising 21 nations, includes
three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and
the Strait of Bab al Mandeb.

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Posted by : Naval News Staff