Innovations
Tactical and technological innovations in drone warfare — what showed up first, where, and what it changes. Each entry is sourced, dated, and linked to the drones involved.
US Navy tests crewed-uncrewed teaming of SEAL SDVs with UUVs
The US Navy is testing concepts where SEAL Delivery Vehicles (wet SWCS Mk 11 and larger Dry Combat Submersibles) operate alongside uncrewed underwater vehicles to extend reach and reduce risk (e.g., sending UUVs through defended harbor chok…
Spanish Navy BHC vessels to use ABB DC-grid electric propulsion with batteries
ABB will supply Navantia with a DC-based onboard power distribution and propulsion suite (Onboard DC Grid + PEMS, thruster motors, and batteries) for two new Spanish Navy coastal hydrographic vessels. While not a frontline combat tactic, it…
Sweden selects Naval Group FDI design for Luleå-class frigates
Sweden will procure a foreign frigate design (Naval Group’s FDI) for its future Luleå-class, integrating Swedish weapons/sensors (RBS 15, Torped 47, Giraffe 1X, Bofors guns) while likely retaining the French SETIS CMS. The ships are planned…
France launches second FDI frigate with PSIM integrated mast module
The post highlights Naval Group’s FDI frigate design featuring the PSIM integrated mast: a modular, pre-tested sensor/CIC/data-center mast integrating major radars, ESM/COMINT, and the SETIS CMS for 360° surveillance and improved survivabil…
Italy forward-deploys MCM vessels with AUV/ROV suite for Hormuz mine threat
Italy is pre-positioning Gaeta-class mine countermeasures vessels for potential Strait of Hormuz operations, highlighting modern MCM built around unmanned underwater vehicles (HUGIN, REMUS 300 with Kraken SAS, Pluto Plus/Gigas) and upgraded…
DSIT unveils layered Underwater Domain Awareness concept with new BlueShield counter-UUV sonar
DSIT Solutions is introducing an Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) concept that fuses multiple sonar systems (AquaShield/PointShield, new seabed-mounted BlueShield counter-UUV sonar, and long-range SeaShield) into a unified C2 picture with …
L&T-Exail unmanned mine countermeasures suite proposed for Indian Navy MCMVs
L&T and Exail plan to deliver an unmanned mine warfare suite for India’s future Mine Counter Measure Vessels, combining autonomous surface/underwater vehicles and ROVs for stand-off mine detection, classification and neutralization. While t…
ROMULUS-25 autonomous USV prototypes delivered to U.S. Marine Corps
HII and MetalCraft Marine delivered and sea-tested two ROMULUS-25 unmanned surface vessel prototypes for the U.S. Marine Corps, demonstrating advanced autonomous mission behaviors at sea. The 27-foot USV uses HII’s Odyssey AI-based autonomy…
US Navy FYDP proposes nuclear-powered guided-missile battleship (BBGN) concept
The post describes a proposed new US Navy surface-force structure featuring a new guided-missile battleship class shifting to nuclear propulsion (BBGN) to support high-power directed-energy weapons and advanced EW suites, plus a high-low mi…
US FYDP outlines Columbia/Virginia buys and SSN(X) designed for unmanned integration
The plan highlights SSN(X) as a next-generation attack submarine intended to be interoperable with unmanned systems from the outset and to have increased payload volume potentially for UUV carriage and seabed-warfare roles. While much of th…