Integrating Unmanned Systems into Operations at Sea

Members of NIWC Atlantic’s Unmanned Naval Innovation Team (UNIT) participated in Exercise “UNITAS” off the coast of Colombia last week in support of the U.S. 4th Fleet’s future hybrid fleet.

The UNIT team works out of NIWC Atlantic’s S&T Department and applies unmanned, communications, autonomy, data-centric and maritime domain expertise to provide technical leadership for the development and deployment of unmanned naval capabilities from demonstration through operationalization. The team’s original tasking was in the Middle East, supporting Task Force 59 under U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.

During the UNITAS exercise, UNIT experts in unmanned systems and autonomy traveled to Cartagena to join 4th Fleet’s efforts to support CNO objectives to scale unmanned platforms to the fleet level, including unmanned air, surface and subsurface platforms.

Unmanned platforms and key enabling technologies, including machine learning and artificial intelligence, will enhance maritime domain awareness and enable rapid decision-making at the highest levels.

Latin for unity, UNITAS is the longest-running multinational maritime exercise in the world and an excellent opportunity for U.S. forces to demonstrate their commitment to our allies and partners while training across the full spectrum of maritime operations.