The 3rd Fleet finished the fourth experimentation event geared at testing unmanned vehicles and systems for the Navy on March 15.
Integrated Battle Problem (IBP) 24.1 lasted from March 4 to 15 off the coast of Southern California with unmanned aerial systems (UAS), unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs).
This was the fourth iteration of a series of tests with unmanned systems in the U.S. Pacific Fleet Experimentation Plan.
The Navy underscored this IBP features semi and fully autonomous unmanned vehicles that can operate alongside crewed vessels “in an effort to generate new warfighting advantages” while seeking to reduce the risk to personnel in hostile environments.
It also said this kind of integration testing helps find and resolve faults in the systems’ cooperative operation.
“IBP is an experimental evaluation of how the force fights. To bring a new capability to bear, it has to be demonstrated first,” Capt. Brian Jamison, Assistant Chief of Staff of 3rd Fleet’s Experimentation Directorate, said in a statement.
“We won’t execute a plan that hasn’t been tested. Experimentation validates technology for safe and effective operations. We are learning what doesn’t work as much as we are learning what does work. Our aim is to develop and enhance our current force in order to maintain and grow our advantage in the maritime domain,” he continued.
In February, Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet and upcoming commander of Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), said the Navy will stand up the second Unmanned Surface Vessel squadron in May but would not say what capabilities it will use (Defense Daily, Feb. 15).
He also noted IBP 24.1 would occur. Paparo said in the future there will be experiments to add Standard Missile-6 launchers to some of the larger unmanned vessels tested in previous iterations, using decoys and electronic warfare packages and integrated unmanned vessels and aircraft with crewed systems.
A Navy statement and photos of IBP 24.1 said participating systems included the Metal Shark Long-Range Unmanned Surface Vessels (LRUSVs), unspecified Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Ship-Deployable Seaborne Targets (SDSTs), Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Crafts (GARC) built by Maritime Applied Physics Corporation, Ocean Aero Triton Autonomous Underwater and Surface Vehicle (AUSV), Anduril’s ALTIUS loitering munition, the Saronic Cutlass 13 foot autonomous vessel, Saronic Spyglass six foot autonomous vessel, the Aerovironment Switchblade 600 loitering munition, MARTAC’s T-12 Mantas 12-foot unmanned surface vessel, MARTAC’s eight-foot T-38 Devil Ray vessel, MARTAC M18 USV and the Large Diameter Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (LDUUV).
The Navy also noted that as IBP “evolves” it will have more opportunities for coordination with allies and partners.
“IBP’s focus on experimentation provides the necessary pretense for collaboration with allies and partner nations that drives interoperability. Building relationships strengthens the Navy’s capacity to maintain security and freedom in the Indo-Pacific region,” 3rd Fleet said.