Brandon Schingh
Unmanned autonomous vehicles (UAVs) have revolutionized air- and land-based warfare by shifting the balance of power by providing inexpensive alternatives to traditional, high-impact platforms. The maritime battlespace – long dominated by capital ships, submarines, and aviation – is positioned for a fundamental transformation as UAVs increasingly play a central role in naval strategy. Policymakers and military leaders must grapple with the implications of this paradigm shift, as unmanned systems blur the lines between deterrence, escalation, and asymmetric warfare.
Maritime forces are already experimenting with unmanned platforms. The U.S. Navy has invested in systems like Boeing’s MQ-25 Stingray, an unmanned tanker designed to extend the reach of carrier air wings as well as smaller unmanned surface vehicles. Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) are being tested for reconnaissance, ship hull inspection, and mine countermeasures, such as General Dynamics Bluefin series and Northrop Grumman’s Manta Ray. Likewise, Ukraine has demonstrated the disruptive potential of low-cost, explosive-laden unmanned surface vessels (USVs), such as the Sea Baby 2024, against Russian Black Sea Fleet assets, revealing how small, inexpensive drones can damage or deter much larger naval forces. These developments signal a shift where unmanned systems are no longer supplementary but key capabilities in maritime warfare.
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