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- ⚓ Navy Moves Away from Optionally Manned Vessels as It Mulls Unmanned Future
⚓ Navy Moves Away from Optionally Manned Vessels as It Mulls Unmanned Future
Navy pivots from optionally manned to purpose-built unmanned platforms, prioritizing reliability, lifecycle cost, and mature CONOPS.
Dallas Hartley
August 18, 2025
📬 In Today’s Defense Brief
⚓ Navy Moves Away from Optionally Manned Vessels as It Mulls Unmanned Future Read More
📡 First DARC Test Validates Deep-Space Radar Tracking, Northrop Says Read More
🧠 AI Flight Software Maker Merlin to Go Public Read More
✈️ C100 Drone Enhances F-35A Strike Precision in USAF Demo Read More
🛰️ Order Seeks to Ease Rules and Boost U.S. Space Launch Cadence Read More
🎱 Plus 8 other news stories you may like
📰 Full Breakdown
Navy pivots from optionally manned to purpose-built unmanned platforms, prioritizing reliability, lifecycle cost, and mature CONOPS.
Shift emphasizes simplified architectures, encrypted resilient comms, and faster autonomy certification for validated fleet missions.
Near-term focus: attritable USVs/UUVs, modular payloads, autonomy upgrades, and distributed logistics to strengthen DMO resilience.
📡 First DARC Test Validates Deep-Space Radar Tracking, Northrop Says Read More
Initial DARC trial validated long-range custody of high-altitude objects using solid-state arrays and agile beamforming, boosting fidelity.
System targets persistent deep-space custody, cueing SDA networks and missile warning with precise, timely revisit and custody rates.
Next milestones include site build-out, advanced software integration, and cybersecurity hardening before multi-node operational trials.
🧠 AI Flight Software Maker Merlin to Go Public Read More
IPO funding accelerates certification and scaling of Merlin’s AI flight stack for reduced-crew operations and autonomous cargo globally.
Platform integrates perception, guidance, contingency handling, and explainability aimed at regulator-ready safety cases worldwide.
Partnerships with airframers and cargo operators will shape routes, mixed-crew transitions, and training for phased deployments globally.
✈️ C100 Drone Enhances F-35A Strike Precision in USAF Demo Read More
C100 drone teamed with F-35A to extend sensing and targeting, sharpening strike precision and enabling safer, longer standoff tactics.
Demo showcased attritable teaming platforms carrying ISR, comms relay, or decoys to complicate dense adversary integrated air defenses.
Next steps assess datalink robustness, mission autonomy, and rapid reconfiguration under contested environments and weather degradation.
🛰️ Order Seeks to Ease Rules and Boost U.S. Space Launch Cadence Read More
Order directs agencies to streamline licensing, range ops, and reviews to cut delays for national security and commercial launches faster.
Policy aims to harmonize standards across FAA, DoD, and NASA, cutting duplication and clarifying roles for responsive launch capability.
Execution hinges on interagency coordination, environmental compliance, and range infrastructure investments to support surge cadence.
🌏 Other Important News
🛡️ Air & Missile Defense
U.S. intel warns new Iskander-M variants threaten Patriot defenses Read More
🤖 AI & Autonomy
Australia and Hong Kong test counter-drone defenses for urban sites Read More
🛡️ Land
🏛️ Policy & Geopolitics
🎖️ Personnel
Navy names John Perryman as top enlisted sailor (MCPON) Read More
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