U.S. Military Tests Autonomous Unmanned Surface Vessels During Philippines Exercise, Expanding Maritime Drone Capabilities

U.S. Military Tests Autonomous Unmanned Surface Vessels During Philippines Exercise

The U.S. Army has announced that autonomous Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) successfully provided escort for a U.S. military Logistics Support Vessel (LSV) during a joint exercise with the Philippine Army, showcasing how unmanned autonomous systems are reshaping modern maritime operations.

Exercise Mission Overview

Soldiers from the 125th Military Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Battalion, part of the 25th Infantry Division, deployed multiple USVs in Casiguran Sound, Philippines. According to a U.S. Army statement released in June, the unmanned vessels were positioned ahead of a Logistics Support Vessel as it approached Casiguran port, conducting reconnaissance of the surrounding environment and relaying real-time intelligence to shore-based commanders.

The operation was conducted as part of the Salaknib 2026 exercise, supporting the sea transport of Philippine Army personnel and vehicles — including armored personnel carriers — over a distance of more than 260 miles (approximately 418 kilometers) to Casiguran port.

Autonomous Navigation and Intelligence Gathering

The USVs navigated autonomously using onboard sensors, identifying potential threats and continuously providing commanders with a real-time operational picture of the surrounding environment.

Pvt. Caleb Hannah of the 125th Military Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Battalion stated: "We deployed autonomous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance vessels today to provide a security escort for the landing craft. They escorted the LSV into port from about 6 miles out, allowing Philippine vehicles to successfully drive onto the dock."

Photos released by the U.S. Army show soldiers wading chest-deep in water to recover a USV marked with the name "HAVOC" — a defense technology company specializing in the development of autonomous systems.

U.S. Unmanned Maritime Fleet Continues to Expand

The exercise comes as the U.S. military significantly expands its unmanned maritime fleet across the Indo-Pacific. Earlier this year, a U.S. Navy official stated that the number of medium-sized USVs is expected to grow from approximately 4 vessels in April to more than 30 by 2030, supplemented by thousands of smaller USVs and unmanned aerial systems.

Industry partner representative Ben Outlaw noted in the U.S. Army statement: "These vessels provide commanders with situational awareness through the full kill chain — find, fix, target, engage, and assess. With the information provided by the USVs, a commander's decision-making timeline is compressed from hours to seconds."

Extended Applications: USVs in Search and Rescue Operations

The U.S. military also demonstrated the versatility of USVs in a separate incident, where a USV assisted in rescuing two Army soldiers after a helicopter crashed off the coast of Oman. In that operation, the Navy Corsair unmanned vessel, operated by Task Force 59 of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (Fifth Fleet), participated in the rescue effort. Capt. Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, confirmed that the task force had begun deploying such unmanned systems in the region as of late March.

As autonomous technology continues to mature, the role of USVs in intelligence gathering, escort security, and personnel rescue missions is expected to grow significantly, with far-reaching implications for the future of maritime warfare.

原文來源： 查看原文