Naval drones have already proven themselves on the battlefield in real combat conditions, both as kamikaze platforms and as carriers of various weapons.Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy is pursuing a project known as the deconstructed DDG, aimed at exploring how low-cost, commercially available unmanned vessels could potentially replace a fully capable warship. The idea has been outlined by Rear Admiral Michael Mattis.
According to Defence One, initial estimates suggest that around 20 unmanned surface vessels of different types could perform the same missions as a single destroyer. Mattis claims this could be achieved at a cost roughly 30 times lower than that of a modern guided-missile destroyer.
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Still, before such a vision can be realized, Mattis and his team must overcome a major challenge: proving that the concept can be effective in practice. He has stressed the need to demonstrate the return on investment, as well as the resilience and combat effectiveness of the system.
There is an important distinction between integrating drones into existing naval concepts and doctrines, and redesigning the entire approach from scratch while factoring in risks such as how adversaries might adapt to counter drone fleets.
This summer, the US Navy conducted tests with 10 different types of unmanned surface vessels. These drones showed relatively long operational ranges and, while slower than traditional ships, were able to carry useful payloads.
The next step involves experimenting with different formations to determine the right balance of drones in a group, in order to either replace or operate alongside traditional manned platforms.
Earlier, Defence Express reported on russia's development of a new fiber-optic-controlled naval drone,highlighting both its potential threats and technical vulnerabilities.
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