The littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) sails with two T-38 Devil Ray unmanned surface vessels (USV) and an Arabian Fox MAST-13 USV, all attached to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s (NAVCENT) Task Force 59, during exercise Digital Talon 2 in the Arabian Gulf, Nov. 27, 2023. (Photo: U.S. Army by Sgt. Marita Schwab)
By Rich Abott |
@ReaderRabott
1 year ago |
12/01/2023
highlights Navy/USMC unmanned systems

Task Force 59 (TF-59) tested live fire exercises with manned-unmanned teaming via the Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship USS Indianapolis

(LCS-17) in the Persian Gulf, the Navy said this week.

This latest exercise, Digital Talon 2.0, is the second of its kind in two months. The Navy highlighted it conducted this manned-unmanned teaming by operating LCS-17 together with three unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and one unmanned aerial vehicle “to create a single common operating picture” or a mesh network, the Navy said. The mesh network provided targeting data to all stations participating in the exercise.

The littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) sails with two T-38 Devil Ray unmanned surface vessels (USV) and an Arabian Fox MAST-13 USV, all attached to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s (NAVCENT) Task Force 59, during exercise Digital Talon 2 in the Arabian Gulf, Nov. 27. (Photo: U.S. Army by Sgt. Marita Schwab)
The Littoral Combat Ship USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) sails with two T-38 Devil Ray unmanned surface vessels (USV) and an Arabian Fox MAST-13 USV, all attached to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s (NAVCENT) Task Force 59, during exercise Digital Talon 2 in the Arabian Gulf, Nov. 27. (Photo: U.S. Army by Sgt. Marita Schwab)

Task Force 59 operates under Naval Forces Central Command to test and integrate unmanned and artificial intelligence technologies into the fleet.

The service said the Nov. 27 test demonstrated these platforms could be paired and they together identified, targeted, engaged and destroyed simulated hostile forces at sea represented in a target boat.

The Navy said Digital Talon 2.0 specifically had a MARTAC T-38 Devil Ray USV score direct hits on a target boat using a Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System.

The service underscored a human operator ashore at the T-59 Robotics Operation Center made all of the engagement decisions, as in the first Digital Talon exercise.

The other participants in the exercise included an Aerovel Flexrotor unmanned aerial vehicle, L3Harris [LHX] Arabian Fox MAST-13 USV, and a second T-38 Devil Ray USV.

“This second iteration of Digital Talon continues building on our earlier successes. We keep progressing toward fulfilling NAVCENT’s priorities of deterrence and de-escalation by demonstrating live firing from a tight ‘manned-unmanned teaming’ model,” Capt. Colin Corridan, TF-59 commodore, said in a statement.

Corridon added that this was a “significant” step forward, with the results having “proven these unmanned platforms paired with our manned combat ships can enhance fleet lethality. In doing so, we are strengthening regional maritime security and enhancing deterrence against malign activity.”