Try the political quiz
 @ISIDEWITHNewsDaily DiscussionJoe BidenMilitaryDefenseBidenBiden AdministrationdronesPentagon•••2wks ago

Sea drone warfare has arrived. The U.S. is behind.

U.S. Navy's efforts to build a fleet of unmanned vessels are faltering because the Pentagon remains wedded to big shipbuilding projects

The Navy has a budget of $172 million this year for small and medium-sized underwater sea drones, falling to $101.8 million in 2025, the spokesperson said. That's a tiny fraction of the $63 billion Navy procurement budget proposed by President Joe Biden's administration for 2025.

Military sea drones can range from missile-armed speed boats to minehunting miniature submarines and solar-powered sailboats equipped with high-definition spy cameras, underwater sensors and loudspeakers used to holler warnings at enemy ships.

There aren't enough Navy sailors trained to pilot drones or to analyze vast swathes of data sent back from the craft's cameras and sensors, the sources said.

At a cost ranging between $1 million and $3 million apiece, according to Navy and defense contractor sources, drones offer a relatively cheap and fast way to expand the Navy's fleet, especially as several large traditional shipbuilding projects - like a new class of frigate warships - are running years behind schedule.

9 Replies

 @CabinetSaltLibertarian from Wisconsin commented…2wks2W

I have said for years now that all investment in Ford class carriers is wasted money, and that was based just on the existence of "carrier-killer" missiles (China will gladly send hundreds of carrier-killers against a US boat in order to sink a $10 billion asset). The advent of the drone-era over the course of the Ukraine War just reaffirms that stance. Instead, the US is cutting its submarine budget--the one remaining area where we have considerable advantages over our rivals.

 @NeedyD1plom4tNo Labelsfrom Maine commented…2wks2W

Navy surface ships will be little more than target practice soon. Start building more submarines. Tell Biden to stop cutting defense. We shouldn't be surprised he is making foolish choices for our future. Everything is about him and his future.

 @RabbitSarahLibertarian from Maryland commented…2wks2W

The Shahed-model drone that killed three U.S. service members at a remote base in Jordan on Jan. 28 cost around $20,000. It was part of a family of drones built by Shahed Aviation Industries Research Center, an Iranian company run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Why are we not using our "inferior" and "outdated" missiles and war planes to flatten the Shahed Aviation Industries Research Center?

 @BadgerPhilDemocrat from California commented…2wks2W

Cheaper to operate, and devastating results ftm, especially when looking at the cost of a Naval vessel ...

 @ISIDEWITHasked…2wks2W

Do you believe the U.S. falling behind in sea drone warfare represents a significant threat to national security?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…2wks2W

How do you think the reliance on technology and unmanned systems in the military could impact the role and number of human soldiers?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…2wks2W

What are your thoughts on the ethical implications of using unmanned sea drones in warfare?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…2wks2W

Considering the budgetary choices, should the U.S. prioritize funding for sea drones over traditional shipbuilding projects?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…2wks2W

How do you feel about the shift from traditional naval ships to unmanned sea drones in terms of safety and military strategy?