The US Navy’s Fifth Fleet stationed in the kingdom has successfully launched a one-way attack drone from a ship at sea for the first time.
The Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) was deployed from Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara in the Arabian Gulf.
The Navy’s unmanned and autonomous operations task force, Task Force 59 (TF-59), oversaw the launch on December 16.
However, the Navy, in its statement, did not mention the target of the one-way drone attack that was supposedly neutralised.
“The successful launch of LUCAS from a naval vessel marks a significant milestone in rapidly delivering affordable and effective unmanned capabilities to the warfighter,” said Fifth Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Curt Renshaw.
“This achievement demonstrates the power of innovation and joint collaboration in this critical region.”
The deployment of the US military’s first one-way-attack drone squadron to the Middle East was announced on December 3.
The LUCAS drone that took off from USS Santa Barbara’s flight deck is part of the Task Force Scorpion Strike squadron formed to equip US service members with the latest cutting-edge tools.
The LUCAS platforms operated by US forces in the Middle East have an extensive range and can be launched with different mechanisms including catapults, rocket-assisted takeoff and mobile ground and vehicle systems.
“This platform will undoubtedly enhance regional maritime security and deterrence,” said Vice Adm Renshaw.
In 2023, lethal munitions were fired in international waters around the Arabian Peninsula by TF-59 to test the capabilities of Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) as part of the Exercise Digital Talon, in light of Iran’s hostile maritime actions.
During the manoeuvres, the navy’s first Unmanned and Artificial Intelligence Task Force demonstrated the ability of unmanned platforms to pair with traditionally crewed ships in ‘manned-unmanned teaming’ to identify and target simulated hostile forces at sea.
In 2022, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was launched from a US Coast Guard vessel in the Arabian Sea. An Aerovel Flexrotor successfully took off and landed vertically aboard Emlen Tunnell vessel. The Flexrotor supports intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions day and night using a daylight or infrared camera to provide a real-time video feed.
The GDN previously reported that US Navy in Bahrain deployed sea drones as part of its digital ocean drive.
An unmanned system, or vehicle (UV), is controlled by a remote pilot and can navigate autonomously based on pre-programmed plans or specific targets.
TF-59 replaced the traditional naval operations of deploying an aircraft carrier with thousands of sailors on board with a well-equipped sea drone that can patrol for days and transmit live imagery or unusual movements to the headquarters.
Data collected from radars and sensors of the USVs are analysed and integrated with AI at the TF-59 Robotics Operations Centre in the Fifth Fleet.
In addition, the task force has conducted joint exercises with participation of the Royal Bahrain Naval Force.
The US Fifth Fleet area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. The expanse comprises 20 countries and includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, t he Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab Al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.
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