US plan to establish naval drone fleet ‘not going well’
(MENAFN) Washington’s effort to develop a fleet of naval drones to counter China is facing major difficulties, plagued by software glitches, failed tests, and management upheaval, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing multiple sources.
President Donald Trump has made autonomous naval systems a defense priority, securing nearly $5 billion in funding through his federal spending package. The Pentagon envisions deploying swarms of unmanned surface vessels—costing several million dollars each—as a key element in safeguarding Taiwan against potential Chinese aggression.
But the program has been dogged by mishaps. In July, during a test off California, one autonomous surface vessel stalled while another crashed into it, launching over the deck before slamming back into the sea. In a separate trial weeks earlier, an unmanned boat suddenly accelerated, capsizing its support craft and throwing its captain overboard. He was unharmed.
Sources attributed the failures to software malfunctions combined with human error, including communication breakdowns between onboard systems and external control software. Following the July accident, the Pentagon suspended a nearly $20 million contract with one of the software providers.
The Navy’s main procurement unit for autonomous vessels, the Program Executive Office Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC), has also come under scrutiny. Its head, Rear Admiral Kevin Smith, was dismissed in May for loss of confidence. Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg recently pressed Navy officials on the drones’ limited capabilities and questioned whether they justify their cost.
According to four insiders, the troubled PEO USC is now under formal review and could face restructuring—or even closure—if performance does not improve.
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