The Surge of Drone Boats: Can the US Military Adapt to the Threat?
Weaponized unmanned surface vessels (USVs) are proving to be powerful tools in the Black and Red Seas. With Ukraine and Iranian-backed forces using them effectively, the US military needs to adapt its tactics to avoid falling behind.
💥 Unconventional Tactics Show Their Power
In 2002, the Millennium Challenge war game demonstrated how smaller, unconventional tactics could overwhelm larger warships. The Red Team, led by Lieutenant General Paul Van Riper, used kamikaze boats to sink 19 ships and cause 20,000 casualties in just 10 minutes. Despite the outcome, the Pentagon chose to ignore these lessons, instead doubling down on advanced technology.
Commercial operators deploy Saildrone Voyager Unmanned Surface Vessels out to sea in the initial steps of U.S. 4th Fleet’s Operation Windward Stack during a launch from Naval Air Station Key West’s Mole Pier and Truman Harbor, on September 13, 2023.Photograph: Danette Baso Silvers/US NAVY
🚤 USVs Take to the Battlefield
Fast forward to today: unmanned boats loaded with explosives are being used in real combat situations. Ukrainian forces have deployed drone boats to target Russian warships in the Black Sea, while Houthi rebels have used similar tactics to disrupt international shipping in the Red Sea.
🌐 NATO and the US Navy’s Drone Boat Push
In response, NATO and the US Navy are investing heavily in drone boat technology. The US Navy’s PRIME Small Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) project aims to create swarms of low-cost, networked interceptors designed for maritime threats.
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⚔️ Will the US Military Learn the Right Lessons?
While technology is advancing, military experts, like Van Riper, caution that the focus on tech like USVs may overshadow the importance of combined arms tactics. The Navy must avoid repeating the mistakes of the Millennium Challenge and integrate lessons learned from Ukraine’s success with drones, missiles, and aircraft.
