US Navy deploys unmanned vessel with aircraft carrier strike group in historic first

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao says the deployment alongside the USS Theodore Roosevelt marks a milestone in autonomous warfare as the Pentagon expands its use of maritime drones amid Middle East tensions.

WASHINGTON | The U.S. Navy has deployed an unmanned surface vessel alongside an aircraft carrier strike group for the first time, marking a significant step in the Pentagon's effort to integrate autonomous weapons platforms into conventional naval operations.

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao announced the deployment Wednesday, saying the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group departed Oct. 8 with an unmanned surface vessel designed to expand the fleet's operational capabilities.

"This is a force multiplier," Cao said during a panel discussion at the Association of the United States Army's annual conference. He described the technology as a way to increase the Navy's combat capabilities without relying exclusively on additional crewed warships.

The deployment comes as the Theodore Roosevelt strike group moves toward the Middle East, where maritime security concerns and evolving military threats have accelerated the Pentagon's investment in autonomous systems.

Navy advances autonomous warfare strategy

The integration represents a milestone in the Navy's transition toward a hybrid fleet combining traditional warships, artificial intelligence and robotic platforms.

Under its emerging "Golden Fleet" strategy, the service aims to deploy unmanned vessels capable of conducting surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic warfare and potentially offensive operations alongside crewed ships.