Watchkeeping

Navy Tests Autonomous Vessels in Recent Multilateral Exercises

A U.S. Navy World Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) maneuvers within the Atlantic Ocean on Sept. 23, 2025, throughout UNITAS 2025, the 66th iteration of the world’s longest-running multinational maritime train. US Navy picture

The U.S. Navy lately deployed World Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC), in addition to a number of different unmanned methods, to coach towards swarms of enemy drones throughout two multinational workouts held within the North Atlantic.

GARCs, that are unmanned service vessels (USV), took half in NATO train Dynamic Messenger 2025 within the waters off Portugal and UNITAS 2025 off the East Coast of the U.S. between Naval Station Mayport, Fla., and Naval Station Norfolk, Va. The Navy has been testing the 16-foot aluminum USVs as the ocean service experiments with autonomous fleets.

Throughout Dynamic Messenger, three GARCs have been deployed to disrupt attacking USVs and defend vital infrastructure from hurt. Dynamic Messenger, an annual dwell train hosted by NATO, was mixed with the Portuguese-led Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping with Maritime Unmanned Techniques (REPMUS) train to check and train the maritime capabilities of unmanned methods.

“We proceed to advance our robotic and autonomous methods via ongoing testing and mixed coaching with companions and their unmanned methods,” stated Adm. Stuart Munsch, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa (NAVEUR/NAVAF), in a information launch. “We deeply respect our ally, Portugal, for his or her management in maritime experimentation and unmanned methods. Our collective functionality is just getting stronger.”

In response to NATO, greater than 250 methods have been examined throughout Dynamic Messenger, which ran Sept. 15-29. There have been 3,800 individuals from 22 nations, together with Ukraine.

“The coaching highlighted trendy maritime warfare tendencies, notably using unmanned methods for coordinated strikes and speedy risk response. On this strategic step ahead, Ukraine’s management introduced fight realism to the train, driving innovation and the event of latest NATO techniques,” reads the NATO launch.

GARCs have been additionally deployed off the East Coast of the U.S. throughout Train UNITAS 2025, which is the longest-running annual multinational maritime train on the earth.

Imagery launched by the Protection Division reveals GARCs being deployed within the Atlantic Ocean, whereas littoral fight ship USS Cooperstown (LCS-23) served as a robotics and autonomous methods hub. Performing because the drone hub, Cooperstown additionally deployed LASSie, Orca, and V-BAT UASs whereas working as a part of the joint naval group led by plane provider USS Harry S Truman (CVN-75).

That is the second 12 months that unmanned and hybrid fleet methods have joined UNITAS as a part of the testing and growth of the U.S. Navy’s future hybrid fleet.

UNITAS started on Sept. 15 and is slated to wrap up Monday. Greater than 8,000 personnel from 25 allied and companion nations are collaborating, in keeping with a U.S. Navy information launch.

The train contains a number of ships, submarines and plane working within the Atlantic Ocean and ashore within the neighborhood of Naval Station Mayport, Fla., Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., and Naval Station Norfolk, Va. The naval items are crusing from Mayport to Norfolk to conduct drills at sea whereas amphibious and land drills involving marines and ships from collaborating nations have been carried out round Camp Lejeune.

Except for Harry S. Truman and Cooperstown, the U.S. Navy was additionally represented by amphibious transport dock USS Arlington (LPD-24), destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116), fleet oiler USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO-195) and quick assault submarine USS Oregon (SSN-793).


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Ryan

Ryan O'Neill is a maritime enthusiast and writer who has a passion for studying and writing about ships and the maritime industry in general. With a deep passion for the sea and all things nautical, Ryan has a plan to unite maritime professionals to share their knowledge and truly connect Sea 2 Shore.

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