The Navy-After-Next: Embracing a Hybrid Fleet Strategy

The concept of a hybrid fleet, articulated by former Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Michael Gilday and further embraced by his successor, Admiral Lisa Franchetti, represents a crucial evolution in maritime strategy. According to the CNO Force Design 2045, the goal is to establish a fleet of 350 crewed ships complemented by 150 large uncrewed maritime vessels. This ambitious initiative aims to enhance the U.S. Navy’s operational capabilities amid increasing global responsibilities.

The Rise of the Hybrid Fleet Concept

The transition to a hybrid fleet is born out of necessity. The U.S. Navy faces considerable challenges in building an adequate number of crewed ships to meet its extensive global commitments. The CNO Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy crucially acknowledges this, stating, “We cannot manifest a bigger traditional Navy in a few short years.” The escalating costs of construction, particularly for advanced vessels like the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, which now averages around $2.2 billion, further complicate the situation.

Amid these challenges, the rapid advancement in technology for uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) offers an opportunity for the Navy to increase the number of vessels in operational service. To facilitate this transition, the Navy established an uncrewed task force dedicated to accelerating the integration of uncrewed systems into its operations.

Pathways to Integration: The Role of The Path Forward on Unmanned Systems

A pivotal document in this transition is the Department of the Navy (DON) Science and Technology Board report, titled The Path Forward on Unmanned Systems. This report lays out a comprehensive strategy for designing, developing, and deploying uncrewed maritime systems, with an emphasis on integrating these platforms quickly and efficiently into naval operations.

The report underscores the importance of “scaling robotic and autonomous systems to integrate more platforms at speed,” aligning with the Navy’s broader strategic objectives. By focusing on experimentation, prototyping, and infrastructure development, the Navy aims to create an agile framework for procuring uncrewed systems, which can significantly enhance its operational capabilities in future combat scenarios.

A Legacy of Innovation

The U.S. Navy’s history is characterized by a consistent drive for innovation. From the transition from sail to steam to the shift from wooden warships to steel, each evolution has been crucial in establishing maritime dominance. The Cold War era further exemplified this trend, marking the introduction of landmark technological advancements such as the first nuclear submarine, USS Nautilus, and the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers.

As the Navy embarks on this latest innovative journey toward a hybrid fleet, the lessons of the past remain vital. The Path Forward on Unmanned Systems aims to harness this legacy of innovation, supporting leadership in translating aspirations into actionable plans and tangible results.

Meeting Combatant Commanders’ Needs

Emphasizing operational effectiveness, The Path Forward on Unmanned Systems prioritizes ensuring that uncrewed systems effectively support combatant commanders. There is an evident eagerness among military leaders to utilize uncrewed systems to enhance their wartime assets. Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, highlighted the potential of these systems to augment conventional forces, increasing capabilities in terms of lethality, sensing, and survivability.

To remain competitive in an evolving strategic landscape, especially concerning the ‘AI arms race’ against adversaries, the report suggests leveraging artificial intelligence. This perspective aligns with the Navy’s goal to reduce operational costs by moving past outdated paradigms where multiple operators are required for a single unmanned system.

Steps Toward Realizing the Hybrid Fleet

Recent discussions within Navy leadership circles have revealed actionable insights regarding the implementation trajectory of The Path Forward on Unmanned Systems. Officials, including Maria Proestou, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for acquisition, policy, and budget, assert that properly deployed uncrewed systems could provide the military with a significant tactical advantage.

The urgency highlighted in the report reflects the Navy’s need to act swiftly in deploying uncrewed systems due to escalating global tensions. It stresses that steps toward achieving a hybrid fleet must be taken in parallel to ongoing technological advancements rather than conforming to a bureaucratic pace.

Developing a Concept of Operations (CONOPS)

Amid this ambitious vision, Congress remains cautious regarding funding significant investments in U.S. unmanned vehicles until a clear concept of operations (CONOPS) is established. This concern underscores the importance of a well-outlined strategy for integrating uncrewed systems into the Navy’s operational framework.

An evolving CONOPS aims to coordinate various uncrewed surface, subsurface, and aerial vehicles, allowing them to perform a spectrum of missions that will be pertinent as the Navy transitions to its hybrid future. For instance, the use of larger uncrewed surface vehicles (LUSVs), like the MARTAC T82 Leviathan, could serve to transport smaller uncrewed vehicles into areas of operations for missions focused on intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and mine-countermeasures (MCM).

Conceptualizing the Future Hybrid Fleet

Consider a scenario involving an expeditionary strike group operating in the Western Pacific. This group, comprising several amphibious vessels, could leverage a mix of LUSVs capable of carrying numerous medium uncrewed surface vehicles (MUSVs). By deploying these assets, the strike group could enhance its ISR capabilities or execute mine-countermeasures more efficiently—performing roles that previously required significant human involvement in hazardous environments.

Ultimately, the vision for a hybrid fleet revolves around collaboration between crewed and uncrewed systems, which can perform traditional naval missions while also paving the way for future capabilities. As operational successes materialize, the Navy will likely seek to enhance its fleets through industry partnerships, fast-tracking further advancements in uncrewed technologies.

Through structured exploration of the Navy’s hybrid fleet initiative, it becomes clear that this transition is not merely about integrating new technology, but fundamentally rethinking operational paradigms to maintain maritime superiority. The journey is fraught with challenges, yet the potential rewards could redefine naval warfare in the decades to come.