‘Robotic Naval Warfare’: Check Out the Navy’s New Satellite-Controlled Unmanned Vessel
- Posted on April 14, 2012 at 10:24am by
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This post originally appeared on Business Insider by Eloise Lee and Robert Johnson.
Image source: Business Insider/Textron
High-flying drones have been getting a ton of attention lately, with all the expensive research and development that is going into crafting the stealthiest, or the longest-lasting, or the most capable unmanned aerial vehicle.
Coinciding with news that China is betting big on its new naval-based aerial drones, U.S. defense contractor Textron demonstrated a vessel Thursday in New Orleans that navigates and patrols the high seas on its own.
The Common Unmanned Surface Vessel has previously been tested out by the Navy during its Trident Warrior trials, the annual fleet experiment for trying out “advanced capabilities” and combat techniques.
It’s the time of year when the Navy gets to go all out with experimental modern warfare hardware and tactics. Textron said before Trident Warrior 2011 that its seafaring drone will demonstrate “robotic naval warfare.”
Without requiring an onboard crew — and risking the lives of sailors — an unmanned surface vessel would carry out missions dealing with “mine countermeasures, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.”
The drone can also send out warnings to unidentified vessels with unknown intentions, “serving as the Navy’s eyes and ears, — and occasionally it’s voice.”
Textron says, ”The unmanned vessels will keep the dull, dirty and dangerous jobs away from our personnel.” While not the first unmanned boat, it is the first one designed without a crew in mind and not just fitted with remote controls.
The new vessel can be controlled by satellite with a range of up to 1,200 miles and can be launched from any Navy ship.
Image source: Business Insider/Textron
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Comments (75)
Captain Crunch
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 12:52pmAll an enemy has to do is send up a rocket set to blow up into a million pieces of space junk. No more satellites to control our RC boats, RC planes, or maybe even our RC President. They need to be working on satellite protection and space weapons platforms.
Report Post »ronin_6
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 4:48pmIts not just a remote controled boat. Its an unmanned boat. In other words it can complete its mission regardless of whether or not it hears from some swaby on the beach. Like a predator drone in water.
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 5:57pmIn other words it can complete its mission regardless of whether or not it hears from some swaby on the beach.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank goodness for that! I’d hate to think a human being would be in full control of a dangerous weapon at all times. Whew!
Report Post »Titainiumman
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 8:53pmWith the plethora of satellites in space it’s not as easy as you think
Report Post »CatHerder54
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 9:07pmUsing Radio/laser satellite links is mostly Interim-Technology, the Final Version will be Autonomous. It will only link/refer to higher Command as needed/available.
Report Post »Check out the X45 – Mach 2+, 18ft long X 22ft CanardWing X 3ft thick fuselage, Stealth, 18hr Fuel, 29(!!)G Turns, 8Air to Air missiles + 110round 20mm, & No Radio Link – Total Autonomy!! And the scary part, unlike piloted aircraft whose pilots cannot be “Stored”, fully operable X45′s can be built/warehoused & stored for several years… while Truly Overwhelming Numbers are Manufactured.
The same Technology can be applied to surface Combatants, & small Lithium(chemical-Very Silent!) Powered Submarines.
We have aprox. 173 F-22s. How long would they last trying to stop a West Coast invasion covered by 20,000 40ft-Container-launched X-45s?
teamarcheson
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 8:31amObama’s New Toy Navy
Not only will the US Navy be smoke free, greens eating, and homosexual but it will also be a Navy of toy boats. The Russians and Chinese are rolling on the floor in laughter. America’s bath tub Navy.
Report Post »teamarcheson
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 8:35amThe electronics is made in China and the software is written by Chinese Nationals in Chinese owned companies in the US. These remote controlled toy boats will be turned on our own ships in a war.
Report Post »PropstotheGast
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 7:01pmI would suspect that what you are proposing would be the most expensive and least effective use of military spending ever conceived. Putting debris in the correct orbit to damage satellite is likely as hard as orbiting the satellite in the first place. Not to mention the expense involved in putting heavy enough pieces of debris up there is imposing. Then once it is up there you actually have to hope it hits the correct satellite. That is like firing a shotgun at a flock of birds 2 miles away and hoping you hit the blue one.
Also I suspect that the military can control aerial drones from an aircraft, and that those drones can relay C&C to other drones in a network. Thats how I would do it.
Report Post »Cruelnunusual
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 12:51pmLooks like a they lower that torpedo-looking thing into the water to make it ride high when it’s going fast.
Report Post »teamarcheson
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 8:37amIt looks like something that came out of a Navy Affirmative Action Diversity design review. A toy weapon that cannot harm anyone. Its mission is to deliver food to a hungry enemy.
Report Post »chuck_in_st_paul
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 12:40pmanyone seen Skynet lately?
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 1:14pmyea exactly. Unfortunately, the use of all these drones will make it easier for governments around the world to start and carry out wars. Unfortunately, they will only make us poor and slaves to the federal govt.
Terminator and star wars were right on…..Drone wars
Report Post »SLEUTH
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 3:07pmIT’S COMING….together, that is, and soon in your neighborhood.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 1:55amLiberal self induced Climax: Robot Space Cadets & Robot Soldiers & Sailors… so no one will ever get Hurt by Exploration or War!
That’s it… faster, Faster…
Report Post »youdidthis
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 12:08pmPower Grab for Natural Gas – New Executive Order
Report Post »http://www.canadafreepress.com/
Shasta
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 2:50pmAlways on a Friday when he hopes no one is paying attention.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 7:09pm@youdidthis
Report Post »The article said nothing of the EO’s #. Do you know what it is?
ProbIemSoIver
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 8:01pmHere is an executive order you can sink your teeth into:
Report Post »http://www.rense.com/general86/nomis.htm
sooner12
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 11:52amI’m afraid one day there will be no glory of battle.
Report Post »txbigfoot
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 12:03pmits good until something breaks .. then what.
Report Post »thenewhickschick
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 11:51amAnything which will protect and assist our troops is marvelous! Now if we could just allow them to do the jobs for which they were trained and get them back home quickly and safely . . . that would be a dream come true.
Report Post »bitter.clinger
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 11:42amObama has that whole “unmanned Presidency” thing covered
Report Post »V-MindMeld
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 11:32amPretty cool,,,we’ll see if its worth the expense…..like ya said the chinese will have a clone of it soon, just like out latest raptor jet fighter plain,,,,,f-22
Report Post »thegodfather
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 11:29amYea yea yea…….it’s for..”surveillance. Cut the crap and show us the kick ass weaponry you got planned to lay waste to that Iranian Navy.
Report Post »flsnipe
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 11:19am(ASW) Antisubmarine war fair No, mine detection may be? Its more for spying get in close to shore listen and get out fast no crew 100% deny ability blow it up if you have to scuttle it no big loss.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 11:12amHow long before Obama gives it to the Russians and they sell it to Iran and the Taliban?When Will Egypt use it to attack Israeli shipping?
Report Post »ScienceIsNotEvil
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 6:57pmIsrael has tried to sell weapons to China and is currently setting up a drone factory on Russia soil yet we don’t hear a peep out of Beck about it. Seams strange.
Does he support the transfer of advanced weapons technology to those countries?
Report Post »TheCoffinMaker
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 11:12amI can’t wait to watch one of these when the Chinese hack into them!
Report Post »Netsurfer2
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 12:46amHahahahaha, you lose! These are closed systems completely for military use only! The operating system is not on any public IP address what so ever. Communications are very random and scrambled beyond understanding that would take forever to decipher!
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on April 15, 2012 at 2:17pmnetsurfer-
Report Post »Apparently you are not up on on Chinese hacking. They hacked the FAA command and control, they put a keylogger virus into the system for all predator drones that we can’t seem to remove. they have hacked every level of our government, heck anonymous even hacks the CIA at will…You still feel we are secure?
RJJinGadsden
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 11:12amSounds really interesting and I can see some practicalities. But, what does it do in a potential rescue mission? Okay, maybe it sits there with putting the Navy’s eyes and ears on the problem while a rescue team is en route. I guess it must sit there and scratch it’s shiney metal ass until they arrive though.
Report Post »spfoam1
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 12:37pmNo single tool performs every task.
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 1:16pmno mission necessary. its all about provocing wars and executive war powers since “no boots will be on the ground”
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 3:16pmPardon me guys, thought that I would try and insert a little Futurama comedy via Bender. Obviously it didn’t work.
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 3:21pmnobody watches that
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 11:08amcool, we can deploy these along our coasts, and deal with these drug cartels with impuity.
Report Post »docvet
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 5:34pmProbably something the Coast Guard can use for drug interdiction.
Report Post »IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 11:06amSounds like two little kids racing to see who is the fastest to the finish line. Safety and Security should be first in our Countries mind so you don’t have to be first you just have to end up with the best product for the welfare of the people.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 11:03amNeat, but what can you really do to serve in a maritime fashion without human intelligence and presence? This thing cannot board a ship and search a cargo hold or go over a cargo manifest. All it can do is shoot and scoot. That is all. I foresee it being used mainly as an interceptor vehicle to protect larger manned ships from being approached by small speed boats. But even that job could be done by 4 or 5 sailors manning M-2′s on the rails. So this looks like an almost complete waste of money.
Report Post »talven
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 3:46pmSome (many?) of those fast attack boats have missiles on them, putting them out of range of m-2′s on the rails. Best to get them before they launch, IMO.
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 11:01amThese will be used to keep Americans from fleeing the states when the country collapses. Terminator can’t be far off.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 11:17amIn that case you would not have sailors on board with the morals enough to not shoot their own people.
Report Post »Todd P
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 11:49amI’m really hoping to make it out before then – but financially it is still 3 or 4 years off (I have to be prepared to survive where we’re going). If Romney is elected, I will have the time I need; if not, I have no Plan B (yet).
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 3:19pmTODD P, good luck to you. I worked with several cops years ago who were looking forward to retiring and moving out of the country too. I’m going to do my best to stick it out down here in the south.
Report Post »Channel3
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 10:56amEquip this vessel with a minigun and you have the perfect tool for pirate interdiction.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 11:15amIt would just need a CinC with enough guts to tell it to pull the trigger.
Report Post »GO-FOR-LIBERTY
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 10:53amThe tech race is on. If we can’t get you one way there is always another.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 10:46amSo the question now becomes is who did Obama the traitor sell it to and for how much?
Report Post »ScienceIsNotEvil
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 6:58pmDo you feel the same way about Israel building a drown factory on Russian soil?
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/09/israel-russia-in-drone-deal-laser-tech-next/
Report Post »Cruelnunusual
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 10:46amWe need to get this technology to the Chinese so we can begin research into building effective counter measures asap.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 10:47amObama has probably already given it to them.
Report Post »routnom23
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 11:02amIf they bought any of the components from China, they already have it.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 10:43am“These aren‘t the droids you’re looking for.”
Report Post »marine249
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 10:48amTIM You must get your thoughs together
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 11:00ammarine249,
Report Post »Huh? Oh, you mean get them pin-pointed where people want them so they can be better controlled and directed. No thanks, I like my adjustable spacial spherical thinking. It‘s just people like yourself who are captivated who don’t like it, because it makes you feel flawed, and lets face it misery likes company or they might realize they are actually miserable.
marine249
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 3:15pmTim Sorry I didm’t ans. you sooner.
I was out of the house.
HUH?
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 10:39amYou see, your little mind tricks don’t keep me captive in Babylon, and I can still think when I see the bling.
Report Post »marine249
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 10:38amI want a new fishing boat.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 10:35amYeah but what about those big antennas that China built, couldn’t China just overwhelm the airways or excite the ionosphere and render robots useless?
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 10:37amWith all the technology in the world it’s never going to replace rugged to the bone soldiers.
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