U.S. Navy Struggles to Develop Unmanned Fleet Amidst Rising Tensions with China
The United States Navy has set ambitious goals to establish a fleet of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) designed to confront the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) should hostilities arise. Yet, recent developments indicate that these aspirations are encountering significant impediments.
The operational value of unmanned surface vessels, colloquially referred to as drone boats, has been notably illustrated in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Here, Kyiv’s forces effectively utilized these autonomous vessels to conduct formidable strikes against the Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF), despite a limited traditional naval presence.
This success has galvanized nations worldwide to enhance their naval capabilities, prompting U.S. military leaders to assert that swarms of autonomous aerial and maritime drones are critical to countering a potential Chinese incursion across the Taiwan Strait.
Numerous programs aimed at developing, testing, and procuring these systems are currently underway. However, an exclusive report by Reuters suggests that these initiatives are faltering, despite the high priority assigned to them.
The report highlights two notable incidents of drone boat testing failures.
In July 2025, during a test off the Californian coast, an autonomous drone boat suffered a software malfunction, resulting in a complete stall. While technicians scrambled to resolve the issue, another drone inadvertently collided with the stationary vessel, vaulting over the deck before plunging back into the sea. A video of the incident has since surfaced, showcasing the mishap.
According to sources familiar with the affairs, this previously undisclosed event involved drone boats produced by competing U.S. defense technology firms Saronic and BlackSea Technologies, marking just one of several setbacks in the Pentagon’s quest to develop a fleet of autonomous maritime assets.
The US Navy’s drone fleet project to counter China faced setbacks.
In a recent test off California, a software glitch caused one autonomous drone boat to stall, leading another to crash into it, vault over the deck, and land in the water.
The incident involved vessels from… pic.twitter.com/PpodUbhulT
— American Press (@americanspress) August 20, 2025
Additionally, a separate incident a few weeks prior saw a support boat capsize when a BlackSea vessel it was towing unexpectedly accelerated. This incident, which previously garnered little attention, was first reported by Defense Scoop.
A spokesperson from the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) confirmed that an unmanned vehicle was involved but omitted specifics regarding the type of vessel.
Both incidents stemmed from a mixture of human error and software failures, including breakdowns in communication between external autonomous software and onboard systems. These revelations raise concerns about the U.S.’s capability to cultivate effective sea drones while smaller nations like Taiwan rapidly advance their naval drone programs in preparation for potential Chinese aggression.
As of this writing, neither the U.S. Navy nor the companies mentioned have issued statements regarding the claims made by Reuters.
Challenges Faced by the U.S. Navy’s Drone Ambitions
The U.S. Navy’s initiative to construct a fleet of unmanned surface vessels and autonomous underwater vehicles underscores its strategic intent to bolster naval readiness amid growing tensions with China.
Although the Navy has been pursuing autonomous maritime technologies for several years, the effective deployment of drone boats by Ukrainian forces has provided a renewed impetus for these efforts.
Ukraine’s unmanned vessels have executed not only successful strikes against Russian naval assets but also achieved extraordinary feats, such as downing Russian aircraft, including Su-30 fighters and Mi-8 helicopters.
Current international interest in enhancing USV production is strongly influenced by these developments, with the U.S. Navy keen to capitalize on this momentum.
The Ukrainian drones primarily function as remotely controlled units, costing approximately $250,000 each and resembling speedboats without seats. They integrate weaponry, explosives, and surveillance capabilities, rendering them adept for kamikaze operations against Russia’s forces.
Conversely, the U.S. aims to achieve a more audacious objective: creating a fully autonomous naval fleet capable of acting in swarms without human direction, anticipated to cost several million dollars per unit. Image for Representation (A Black Sea Technologies USV)
Nevertheless, the recent testing failures have dampened enthusiasm for these innovations. According to Bryan Clark, a specialist in autonomous warfare at the Hudson Institute, the Navy’s attempts to integrate these emerging technologies face substantial hurdles, emphasized by the aforementioned mishaps.
The organization will need to refine its tactics as it acquires a deeper understanding of these systems’ capabilities and limitations.
Problems extend beyond just the functionality of the boats. In May 2025, Rear Admiral Kevin Smith’s unexpected dismissal highlighted internal discontent regarding the program’s trajectory. Officially cited for a “loss of confidence,” an investigation by the Naval Inspector General preceded this action.
Smith had led the Program Executive Officer for Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC) since June 2023, overseeing the integration of USVs into a hybrid fleet to address threats, particularly from China. During an April 2025 meeting, Deputy Secretary of Defense Steven Feinberg expressed dissatisfaction with the program’s efficiency, questioning its overall utility.
Additionally, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has reportedly suspended a significant $20 million contract with L3Harris, a primary supplier of autonomous technology, pending further review. This action underscores concerns regarding the mishaps and the direction of the drone initiatives.
Military sea drones encompass missile-equipped speedboats, submarines suited for mine-clearing, and solar-driven vessels outfitted with advanced surveillance and communication technologies. However, the Navy has struggled with deploying these assets effectively in reconnaissance missions in recent years.
Previous reports indicated a lack of sufficiently skilled personnel to operate drones or interpret the extensive data streams generated by the vessels’ sensors. The recent testing failures indicate that these challenges may be more profound than originally perceived.
The Strategic Imperative of Unmanned Naval Warfare Against China
The strategic rationale for developing these unmanned capabilities is clear: to mitigate the numerical superiority of the PLAN in a potential Indo-Pacific conflict, particularly one ignited by a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Drones are lauded for their cost-effectiveness and scalability, offering invaluable tools for combat, reconnaissance, and intelligence gathering in contested waters.
The U.S. Navy envisions a “hybrid fleet” merging traditional vessels with autonomous drones to augment reach, minimize risks to personnel, and reduce operational expenditures.
Naval analysts contend that swarms of cost-efficient underwater drones could present a formidable threat to Chinese submarines, potentially deployed en masse from warships or drone motherships. These swarming technologies could swarm the ocean, adapting to operational directives while ensuring prolonged surveillance capabilities.
While such drones could threaten to sink warships, their primary utility might lie in disabling a vessel’s defenses, rendering it susceptible to follow-up attacks.
Previously, the U.S. Navy disclosed ‘Project 33’, a comprehensive strategy aimed at counterbalancing Beijing’s encroaching influence in the Indo-Pacific. This initiative, unveiled by Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti, highlights the valuable insights gleaned from the conflicts in Ukraine and the Red Sea concerning future naval warfare, particularly the utility of robotic platforms and inexpensive munitions for achieving “asymmetric sea denial.”
The DIU announced that the U.S. Navy seeks small Unmanned Surface Vehicle (sUSV) interceptors capable of traversing contested waters autonomously, while monitoring maritime threats. The DIU aims to kickstart production next year, targeting an output of 10 or more systems monthly, translating to an annual target of at least 120 drones.
Separately, the Pentagon initiated the $1 billion Replicator program in 2023 to accelerate drone development. The DIU and U.S. Navy intend to procure thousands of aerial and maritime drones, along with necessary operational software, with initial announcements anticipated this month.
Despite these strategic maneuvers, internal rifts, leadership turmoil, and overall dissatisfaction within the ranks suggest that the pursuit of autonomous naval systems, while vital, remains fraught with difficulties, undermining the ambitious strategy aimed at countering threats in the maritime domain.
Source link: Eurasiantimes.com.
