The U.S. Navy established the "Robotics and Autonomous Systems Combat Development Center" to integrate cross-domain unmanned equipment

U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Robotics and Autonomous Systems Combat Development Center, with unmanned system displays visible in the background.

Various types of drones, unmanned surface vehicles and autonomous submarines are being developed and shipped one after another, but how do front-line troops put them into combat? The U.S. Navy officially established a new exclusive command organization this week to centralize the development of unmanned combat operations that were originally scattered in the air, sea and underwater in the same unit. The goal is to make unmanned systems truly a tool that can be used by frontline sailors in combat.

Defense Blog reported that the U.S. Navy this week formally established the Robotics and Autonomous Systems Combat Development Center (RASWDC) at the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story (JEBLC-FS) in Virginia, under the U.S. Fleet Command, with Rear Admiral Melvin Smith as the first commander. The center will become the U.S. Navy’s single operational development base for integrating air, sea and underwater unmanned autonomous systems.

Smith said the core mission of the unit is to integrate the Navy's cross-domain autonomous systems, test unmanned equipment in realistic environments, develop combat doctrine and tactics, and establish a training mechanism to certify sailors who can operate these systems. He said the center's mission is to ensure that the Navy not only deploys unmanned systems but also uses them to gain operational advantage.

The center will also be responsible for transmitting performance data obtained from testing, exercises and training back to the engineers and project managers responsible for equipment design and procurement, so that the development of unmanned systems and the actual use of the fleet can form direct feedback.

U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony that the Navy must quickly incorporate robots and autonomous systems into daily operations, training and deployment to maintain maritime superiority and give officers and soldiers a tactical advantage in high-end combat.

The U.S. Navy stated that RASWDC will not replace existing combat development centers, force commands or system commands, but will collaborate with these units to share test results and experiences and propose new operational requirements.