PACIFIC OCEAN
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) experimented with drones from June 19-24 as part of Exercise Rim of the Pacific’s (RIMPAC) Trident Warrior 2024.
During the flight tests, the ship launched and recovered six unmanned aerial systems.
“The Navy continues to drive rapid experimentation and implementation of new technologies,” said Cmdr. Yilei Liu, commanding officer of USS Curtis Wilbur. “While easy to configure and ready to deploy, it is vital to evaluate these technologies in different environmental conditions to define and scope the operating envelopes of these highly capable platforms.”
The unmanned aircraft are embarked aboard USS Curtis Wilbur to support the Just In Time Delivery (JITD) logistics effort.
“These aircraft are intended to perform ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore autonomous deliveries of medical supplies and critical parts,” said Edward Gesser, a program engineer with the JITD program from Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division – Webster Outlying Field. “The JITD team intends to demonstrate simulated long-range deliveries of critical parts and supplies via autonomous shipboard takeoffs and landings while aboard Curtis Wilbur.”
Traditionally, critical supplies needed by the Navy are delivered using manned aviation assets.
“Due to the high costs associated with manned flight operations and the lack of manned asset availability, a significant number naval operations are delayed while waiting for critical supplies,” said Gesser.
Liu expressed his viewpoint on having autonomy embedded in the Navy in the near future.
“Embedding autonomous platforms into our already-existing systems will define the nature of combat operations in the future. Once tested, autonomous systems can provide independent defensive and offensive capabilities in a contested environment. These systems can perform potentially dangerous, high-risk evolutions with maximum efficiency and minimal risk to personnel.”
RIMPAC 2024 features Fleet experiment initiatives under the umbrella of Trident Warrior 2024, sponsored by Naval Information Warfare Systems Command. Fleet experimentation allows the Navy and its partners to incorporate real-world warfighter feedback early in the acquisition process by exposing the Fleet to emerging capabilities.
Fleet experimentation objectives vary annually, and focused recently on machine learning, aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicle detection/tracking, cybersecurity, and conflict determination. Benefits include leveraging multiple platforms, real-time observation, rapid solution implementation, and direct feedback.
Twenty-nine nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, more than 150 aircraft, and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC in and around the Hawaiian Islands, June 27 to Aug. 1. The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2024 is the 29th exercise in the series that began in 1971.