Category Archives: UxS

German Navy Adopting 30x173mm Air Burst Weapons / So Should the Coast Guard

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The new Mark 38 Mod 4 30mm naval gun system on display on MSI Defence stand at Sea Air Space 2022. Photo: Naval News

Army Recognition’s Navy News reports,

“…on 11 June 2025 … a public tender released via the official German e-procurement platform marks the beginning of a strategic modernization effort in the German Navy’s close-range defense capabilities. In a context where drones and asymmetric threats are playing an increasingly prominent role in contemporary conflicts, the Bundeswehr is initiating a structural transformation of its naval weapons systems.

“At the core of this reform is the introduction of a new 30×173 mm caliber, intended to progressively replace the currently deployed 27 mm light naval guns. This development aims to improve effectiveness against light aerial targets, especially drones, but also surface and land-based threats, by using programmable airburst munitions. The doctrinal shift reflects operational requirements and signals a lasting change in the defensive posture of German naval vessels.”

The gun that is being replaced is in some respects a better weapon than the 25mm the Coast Guard currently uses. It fires a heavier projectile, over a greater distance and has a much higher rate of fire, but apparently they have decided that an airburst projectile is necessary to deal with the drone threat.

The Coast Guard should probably come to the same conclusion. It now appears that an attack by unmanned air or surface craft is the most likely form of terrorist attack. Air burst projectiles are the best available, reasonably priced, hard kill systems for both self-defense and close in force protection.

Unlike the German Navy, the 30x173mm round is already in service with the US Navy and is expected to arm the Polar Security Cutter.

The new large cutters are getting 57mm guns which should be effective, but the FRCs are the units most likely to encounter this threat. The 30 mm would also be more effective against larger threats. We have been told that it is possible to replace a few parts and upgrade existing 25mm mounts to 30mm mounts. If so, we should be doing this.

“Guide To Iran’s Navy & IRGC’s Drone Carriers, Forward Base Ships, and Covert Intelligence Ships” –Covert Shores

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Satellite image of the drone carrier I.R.I.S. Shahid Bagheri (C-110-4) by Maxar Technologies. Note the open aircraft lift and boxed anti-ship missiles behind the superstructure. There appears to be a UAV under netting ahead of the superstructure. This may be a Gaza or similar type

Well, drones are in the news so why not. Drone carriers are becoming a type.

“Covert shores” has an excellent overview of how Iran is converting merchant ships to fulfill naval tasks.

Some are armed with ballistic or cruise missiles.

“Research and Development Center projects continue to enhance Coast Guard mission success” –CG-9

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The Coast Guard Research and Development Center workforce is based in New London, Connecticut. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

Below is a news release from the Acquisitions Directorate (CG-9). If you follow the links there is a huge amount of information.

There is a lot of ongoing work, including cooperation with 4th Fleet in their efforts to operationalize unmanned systems. I had hoped the Coast Guard was doing that, and it’s gratifying to see they in fact are.

The projects listed are wide ranging and may potentially impact every mission area.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was that they are working on detect and avoid systems for small UAS. It appears they are looking at beyond visual line of sight UAS that could be used by the Fast Response Cutters and other vessels that do not have a flight deck. Apparently, they are also looking at using Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) to fire warning shots, presumably to stop drug runners. Would that mean they would also use USVs for disabling fire?

They are also looking at counter UAS alternatives, at ways to operate more effectively in polar regions, maritime domain awareness, and a lot more. It’s very impressive, especially when you consider how little the Coast Guard spends on R&D.

Feb. 7, 2024 —

In fiscal year 2023, the Coast Guard Research and Development Center in New London, Connecticut, supported a research portfolio of 54 projects, covering the full scope of the Coast Guard’s missions. This video highlights a few of those projects, including beyond visual line of sight unmanned aircraft system detect and avoid technology, cutter-based unmanned systems integration with the Ship Control and Navigation Training System, International Maritime Organization polar code validation through advanced simulation modeling, and laser corrosion removal.

View video here.

Related: FY24 RDT&E Project Portfolio

For more information: Research and Development Center page and Research, Development, Test & Evaluation and Innovation Program page

 

“U.S. 4th Fleet’s Maritime Synchronization Symposium: Focus on China and Scaling the Hybrid Fleet”

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U.S. 4th Fleet’s Maritime Synchronization Symposium: Focus on China and Scaling the Hybrid Fleet

Below is a USNAVSOUTH/4TH FLEET PUBLIC AFFAIRS news release.

It does not mention the Coast Guard specifically, but the uniforms are recognizable in the photo above.

Surprising news is that USS George Washington (CVN 73) will deploy to the area next year. Presumably some escorts will come with her. Maybe they will do some drug interdiction along the way. (Wonder if this might be a signal to Venezuela.)

Significantly, 4th Fleet is now a center for experimentation with manned/unmanned hybrid operations that hopefully will ultimately also benefit the Coast Guard.

Dec. 12, 2023
Naval Station Mayport, Fla.  –  U.S. Navy Attachés and U.S. Navy Section Chiefs serving in partner nations in the Caribbean, Central and South America gathered at Naval Station Mayport Dec. 5-8, 2023, for the annual U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet Maritime Synchronization Symposium.

This year’s symposium featured four guest speakers, expert panels, and question-and-answer sessions for the region’s Foreign Area Officers (FAOs) to discuss mutual challenges and opportunities, get the latest information on strategy, operations and exercises, and learn more about the Navy’s strategic competition with the People’s Republic of China and U.S. 4th Fleet’s campaign to inform the hybrid fleet.

The first guest speaker was Ambassador James Story, who most recently served as U.S. Ambassador for the Venezuela Affairs Unit, located at the United States Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia, and is currently a State Department Fellow at Georgetown University. Other guest speakers included Dr. Miles Yu, Professor of East Asia and Military History at the U.S. Naval Academy, Lt. Gen. David Bellon, Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve and U.S. Marine Corps Forces South, and Mr. Chris Diaz, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro’s Chief of Staff.

“We brought in dynamic speakers who gave our Navy Foreign Area Officers (FAOs) much to think about as they return to their respective countries,” said Cmdr. Stephanie Lastinger, U.S. 4th Fleet Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) Director. “They serve on the front lines of strategic competition and are successfully advancing American interests abroad.”

Participants were able to learn more about and provide input to staffers planning the upcoming Southern Seas and Continuing Promise deployments, which will feature USS George Washington (CVN 73) and USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10) deploying to the region next year. They also heard from Cmdr. David Edwards, U.S. 4th Fleet’s Technology and Innovation Director, who briefed Operation Windward Stack, the Fleet’s current operation in the Caribbean.

We are operationalizing technology in a campaign of learning where sometimes we win and sometimes we learn,” said Cmdr. Edwards. “We are sharing our results with the other fleets already and look forward to integrating hybrid fleet information with our partners.”

“This year’s symposium provided all of our FAOs, service providers, and stakeholders an opportunity to spend time together and develop relationships which will help them get better as members of their respective U.S. country teams,” said Rear Adm. Rich Lofgren, USNAVSOUTH/FOURTHFLT Reserve Vice Commander. “We know the critical work our FAOs perform in making the U.S. the maritime partner of choice in the Caribbean, Central and South America.”

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet supports U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American region.

Learn more about USNAVSOUTH/4th Fleet at https://www.fourthfleet.navy.mil, https://www.facebook.com/NAVSOUS4THFLT and @NAVSOUS4THFLT.

“Hybrid Fleet Campaign Event Evaluates Technology For Future Operations” –4th Fleet

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U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet demonstrated unmanned air and surface capabilities from expeditionary fast transport USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10) during the command’s Hybrid Fleet Campaign Event (HFCE) in Key West Oct. 4-13, 2023.

Below is a news release from 4th Fleet. Notably, 4th Fleet is approaching the problem of operationalizing unmanned systems in a different way from that of 5th Fleet.

“A key detail in SECNAV and CNO’s vision was that 4th Fleet would not stand up a separate task force like U.S. 5th Fleet did in Bahrain in 2021, but would develop the hybrid fleet from inside the staff already in place.”

 Oct. 20, 2023

Hybrid Fleet Campaign Event Evaluates Technology For Future Operations

By USNAVSOUTH/4TH FLEET PUBLIC AFFAIRS

KEY WEST, Florida   –  U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet demonstrated unmanned air and surface capabilities from expeditionary fast transport USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10) during the command’s Hybrid Fleet Campaign Event (HFCE) in Key West Oct. 4-13, 2023.

This is the most recent event in U.S. 4th Fleet’s campaign to operationalize cutting edge technologies. After successful rollout of the Campaign at UNITAS in July 2023 and the beginning of operation WINDWARD STACK in September, the Science and Technology event in Key West this past week focused on the evaluation of unmanned systems in advanced kill chains, contested littoral operations, survivability, and sustainment at sea.  It served as both a proving ground for emerging technologies and an opportunity for senior leaders to see for themselves the capabilities of systems that could support the hybrid fleet.

“One of the best ways to change our force is to rapidly operationalize new technologies, new systems, and new tactics, techniques, and procedures,” said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Vice Chief of Naval Operations. “Whether you’re talking about artificial intelligence, cyber, unmanned platforms, directed energy, or hypersonic missiles, we are on the cusp of technological breakthroughs that are going to define future conflict.”

“This week’s technology evaluation event will push boundaries and risk failure in order to allow us to evaluate unmanned technology and then move to operationalize that technology to inform the hybrid fleet,” Rear Adm. Jim Aiken, Commander U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (USNAVSOUTH) & U.S. 4th Fleet, said in advance of the event. “We have many events scheduled and in some of those events we will win, and in some of them we will learn. In both cases, the Hybrid Fleet will be informed, and the Navy will continue to push forward at the speed of technology.”

The campaign to inform the hybrid fleet calls for the combination of manned and unmanned systems to allow U.S. 4th Fleet to execute its larger missions of defending the southern approaches to the United States, countering malign activity in the region with our partners, and supporting the detection and monitoring of illicit trafficking in the region.

“Broad partnership across DoD and industry partners has allowed 4th Fleet to mature operational capabilities rapidly fostering innovation and providing informed recommendations to the parties involved in creating the Disruptive Capabilities Office,” said Dr. Chris Heagney, the Naval Air Systems Command Fleet/Force Advisor to USNAVSOUTH/4th Fleet.

In April 2023 at the Navy League of the United States’ annual Sea Air Space Symposium, Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Honorable Carlos Del Toro and then Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday announced that USNAVSOUTH/4th Fleet would operationalize hybrid fleet operations. A key detail in SECNAV and CNO’s vision was that 4th Fleet would not stand up a separate task force like U.S. 5th Fleet did in Bahrain in 2021, but would develop the hybrid fleet from inside the staff already in place.

“This technology evaluation event is a continuation of the campaign we began in April,” said Cmdr. David Edwards, USNAVSOUTH/4th Fleet’s technology and innovation director. “We evaluate these technologies in focused events like this, then operationalized the technology quickly to fulfill operational requirements in the U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility (AOR). While we operate these systems to fulfil the 4th Fleet mission, the evaluation continues over months and years, not just hours and days. Those operational evaluations inform future acquisitions to ensure the Navy is ready to fight and win with these technologies.

HFCE was 4th Fleet’s largest technology event yet with 305 participants including VCNO and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea and 26 other U.S. government distinguished visitors, 10 foreign partners, 18 industry partners, and 47 Department of Defense Commands participating.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet supports U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American region.

“Inside the U.S. Navy’s Cutting-Edge Drone Boat Tech”–WSJ

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A reader brought the video above to my attention, recognizing the significant Coast Guard participation in the program. 

Below I have reproduced the text that accompanied the video on YouTube. 

Drone boats appear to be on the cusp of a revolution. The U.S. Navy’s Task Force 59 has been pairing cutting-edge unmanned surface vehicles with artificial intelligence to expand the military’s eyes and ears in the Middle East. Now, similar efforts will be rolled out in the Pacific and Central and South America. The military’s objective is to leverage machine learning to detect and anticipate threats before they occur. Experts say the U.S. is currently the leader in this field, but competitors like China and Russia are racing to catch up. I traveled to Manama, Bahrain to see the high-tech drones in action and speak to officials about how they’re preparing for a future with robots in the world’s waters. 0:00 A rare look at the U.S. Navy’s drone boat operation 0:30 Meet the Navy’s Task Force 59 2:14 Drone boat capabilities 4:05 How artificial intelligence is layered with the drone boats 5:11 The global race to advance unmanned marine vehicles 7:23 What’s next for the U.S. military? Check out more from my exclusive interview with Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval forces in the Middle East, about unmanned vessels and the Navy’s future fleet:    • Drone Boats, AI and the Future of Mar…   I’m Shelby Holliday, a reporter for WSJ. Subscribe to join me as I explain some of today’s most pressing geopolitical events, from superpower showdowns and conflicts to supply chain snarls and natural resource struggles.

The link embedded above was to this video. 

Thanks to David for bringing this to my attention.

“U.S. 5th Fleet Enhances Middle East Maritime Security with Unmanned Capabilities” –NAVCENT

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GULF OF OMAN, An Aerovel Flexrotor unmanned aerial vehicle launches from the deck of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) in the Gulf of Oman, in an image released Oct. 6. US Navy photo.

Below is a 6 October news release from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs. It notes Coast Guardsmen were involved, presumably PATFORSWA, but no details of how. All the photo here accompanied the release.

MANAMA, Bahrain —

Last month, naval forces in the Middle East region successfully integrated unmanned platforms with traditionally crewed ships and aircraft to conduct enhanced maritime security operations in the waters surrounding the Arabian Peninsula.

Seven task forces falling under U.S. 5th Fleet integrated 12 different unmanned platforms with manned ships for “manned-unmanned teaming” operations, tracking Iranian Navy and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) ships and small boats over several days during routine patrols in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

This operation bolstered presence in and around a critical chokepoint that in recent months has seen Iran unlawfully seize internationally flagged merchant ships.

Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were involved in the operation.

“We have been operating UAVs and UUVs in the region for years,” said Capt. Joe Baggett, Director of Maritime Operations for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet. “Adding our new USVs, and then integrating all of these platforms into fleet operations, is how we expect to fly and sail well into the future.”

Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, ships and aircraft from Task Force 51/5 (Amphibious/Marine), Task Force 52 (Mine Countermeasures), Task Force 53 (Logistics), Task Force 55 (Surface Warfare), Task Force 56 (Expeditionary), Task Force 57 (Patrol/Reconnaissance) and Task Force 59 (Unmanned/Artificial Intelligence) conducted the operations.

“The integration of new, multidomain unmanned platforms into routine fleet operations provides more ‘eyes on the water,’ enhancing maritime domain awareness and increasing deterrence in the region,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet.

Cooper added that collectively, these platforms support the safe navigation and free flow of commerce through vital regional chokepoints, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz.

“This enhanced maritime security serves as a deterrent against malign activity and strengthens regional stability, which is good for everybody,” he said.

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet’s area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. This expanse, comprising 21 nations, includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ (Oct. 6, 2023) An undated still image released on Oct. 6 from video taken by an Arabian Fox MAST-13 unmanned surface vessel of two Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy patrol speedboats in the Strait of Hormuz.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ (Oct. 6, 2023) An undated still image released on Oct. 6 from video taken by an Arabian Fox MAST-13 of an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy patrol speedboat in the Strait of Hormuz.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ (Oct. 6, 2023) An undated still image released on Oct. 6 from video taken by an Arabian Fox MAST-13 unmanned surface vessel of an Iranian Navy AB-212 helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ (Oct. 6, 2023) A undated still image released on Oct. 6 from video taken by a MARTAC T-38 Devil Ray unmanned surface vessel of an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy warship in the Strait of Hormuz.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ (Oct. 6, 2023) An undated still image released on Oct. 6 from video of an Iranian Navy frigate taken by an Aerovel Flexrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (AAV) in the Strait of Hormuz.(U.S. Navy photo)

STRAIT OF HORMUZ (Oct. 6, 2023) An undated still image released on Oct. 6 from video taken by an Arabian Fox MAST-13 unmanned surface vessel of an Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle in the Strait of Hormuz.

UNITAS 2023

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I had expected that at least some Coast Guard units would participate in UNITAS 2023, July 11-21, given the Coast Guard’s prominent role in 4th Fleet, but I find no mention of CG participation.

Also bit disappointed we don’t have a listing of non-US units participating too.

Below is SOUTHCOM’s summary of the event. The incorporation of unmanned systems should have been very interesting.

Overview

UNITAS is an annual exercise conducted in Atlantic and Pacific waters around Central and South America. UNITAS LXIV included maritime and amphibious phases and, for the first time ever, included integrated operations of unmanned systems in the exercise. The exercise was held July 11-21, 2023, in Colombia.

The exercise develops and sustains relationships that increase the capacity of our emerging and enduring partners’ maritime forces to achieve common desired effects.

Training Scenarios

UNITAS’ challenging training addresses key aspects of multinational and combined operations such as technology standardization and common operating procedures. Training included scenarios addressing electronic warfare, anti-air warfare and air defense, anti-surface warfare, live fire, maritime interdiction, littoral operations, and amphibious operations.

UNITAS LXIV consisted of two concurrent phases: at sea and amphibious. The maritime domain included the littorals which incorporates not only the ocean, but also the area inland from the shore that can be supported and defended directly from the sea. The majority of the amphibious training took place along the coast where marines and naval infantry trained in support of greater naval operations. The amphibious phase consisted of riverine operations and culminated in a landing from naval vessels.

Unmanned Systems training: In April the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations announced that the Navy will scale unmanned systems to the fleet level by operationalizing unmanned systems in the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations. Specific to UNITAS LXIV, the Navy deployed and exercised several unmanned systems to enhance maritime domain awareness, conduct battle damage assessment in support of the UNITAS LXIV live-fire sink exercise, or SINKEX, and integrate unmanned system operations with partner nation navies. The deployment of multiple unmanned systems is new to UNITAS but will become the standard as NAVSOUTH/4th Fleet takes lessons learned to inform the Navy’s hybrid fleet coming in the next decade. Additionally, the U.S. Marine Corps employed unmanned systems in support of its Force Design 2030 concept and will refine tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to inform the service on operational employment.

Women, Peace and Security Symposium: UNITAS LXIV featured a forum on the topic of women, peace and security. The forum is part of a global effort to support the contributions of women in the defense and security sectors around the world. The program is a cornerstone to SOUTHCOM’s mission of promoting security partnerships across the Western Hemisphere.

Participating Countries

UNITAS LXIV featured 20 participating countries: Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, South Korea, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and the United States.

Participating U.S. Forces

  • USS New York (LPD 21)
  • USS Cole (DDG 67)
  • USS Little Rock (LCS 9)
  • USS Pasadena (SSN 752)
  • USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10)
  • Patrol Squadron Five (VP 5)
  • Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EOD) 612
  • Mine Countermeasures Group 3 (MCMGRU 3)
  • Expeditionary Mine Countermeasures EOD Company 61 (EODMU 61)
  • Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22 (HSC 22)
  • Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 70 Detachment 2 (HSM 70 Det 2)
  • Joint Communications Support Element (JCSE)
  • Fleet Surgical Team (FST) Eight
  • Meteorological Environmental Team (MET)
  • 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment (3/23)
  • 4th Amphibious Assault Battalion (4th AABn)
  • 8th Combat Logistic Battalion (CLB 8)
  • 4th Combat Engineer Battalion (4th CEB)
  • Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 774 (VMM 774)
  • Marine Light Helicopter Attack Squadron 775 (HMLA 775)
  • Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 (VMGR-234)
  • Marine Aircraft Control Group – 48 (MACG-48)
  • Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 (VMFA-112)
  • Commander, Destroyer Squadron 40 (COMDESRON 40)
  • Commander, Amphibious Squadron Four (COMPHIBRON FOUR)
  • U.S Marine Corps Forces South (MARFORSOUTH)
  • Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH)
  • U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet
  • U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM)

Background

UNITAS I took place in 1960 with forces from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, the United States, and Venezuela. This year marks the 64th iteration of the world’s longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise. Additionally, this year Colombia celebrated the bicentennial of its navy, a historical milestone commemorating 200 years of the country’s maritime forces.

“Navy orders 24 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 62 sensor payloads in $32 million deal to Boeing Insitu” –Military+Aerospace Electronics

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Insitu Scan Eagle in Coast Guard colors

Military+Aerospace Electronics reports,

Officials of the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., announced a $32 million order late last month to Boeing Insitu Inc. in Bingen, Wash., for four RQ-21A Blackjacks, 20 ScanEagles, 62 ScanEagle payloads and turrets, as well as support equipment and spare parts.

Could some of these systems be going to the Coast Guard? And, if not, why not? The Coast Guard regularly buys equipment, including aircraft, by adding on to DOD contracts.

The Coast Guard is, I believe, still contracting for vendor operated Scan Eagles. It’s about time they were integrated into the service and operated by enlisted Coast Guardsmen.

I suggested the Coast Guard should take a look at this system in 2011. Probably not because of my suggestion, but the Coast Guard started testing the systems at least as early as 2014. Scan Eagle was flown from USCGC Bertholf and made its “first bust” in 2014, nine years ago. The decision to put Scan Eagle on the National Security Cutters was made in 2020. Presumably Scan Eagle or something similar will be on the Offshore Patrol Cutters as well. The Coast Guard still needs long range shore based UAS, and I think there is a good case for small shore based UAS at the group level.

Point being, we are passed the initial research stage. We know there will be UAS operated by the Coast Guard for the foreseeable future. The number of unmanned systems in the Coast Guard should grow rapidly.

Scan Eagle was developed to be operated by commercial fishermen from Tuna boats. It’s not rocket science. It should be obvious the Coast Guard needs to own the equipment and develop in house unmanned system expertise.

Buy the equipment. Make unmanned operation and maintenance a rating or a special qualification and career path. At least follow the Navy/Marine Corps lead.

“US Navy ‘operationalizes’ drones in 4th Fleet’s UNITAS event” –Defense News

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Personnel from the U.S. and Colombian navies attend a demonstration of Aerosonde MK4.7 Hybrid Quad drone during UNITAS on July 16, 2023. (MC1 Hunter Harwell/U.S. Navy)

Defense News reports,

“The U.S. Navy leveraged air and surface drones throughout its two-week UNITAS 2023 naval exercise near Latin America, the first major event since service leadership announced the region would host the sea service’s second unmanned operations hub.”

The Coast Guard certainly has an interest in 4th Fleet’s use of unmanned systems since their area of responsibility (AOR) includes the Eastern Pacific drug transit zones and the Caribbean.

Apparently, not all the systems are in place yet.

“Some of the same systems will return this fall for operations and exercises in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific Ocean, he added.”

Importantly 4 Fleet is developing a “mesh network that compiles a detailed common operating picture of the region — then AI tools could help flag areas where potentially problematic activities are happening.”

Hopefully we will see video of the SINKEX as recorded by the UAS.