US Navy’s Middle East drone fleet goals revised following significant target shortfall

The U.S. Navy’s ambitious plan to assemble a fleet of 100 unmanned surface vessels in the Middle East has fallen short of expectations, leading to a change in focus for the program. According to a military official, the Navy has abandoned the numerical target in favor of emphasizing operational capability.

Initially, the Navy aimed to have 100 drone boats patrolling Middle Eastern waters by the end of the summer of 2023, with the majority of the unmanned craft provided by regional allies. However, by the end of last summer, the Navy only had about 50 vessels in the regional fleet, with the U.S. contributing approximately 20.

The goal of the fleet was to collect information to be shared among the U.S. and its allies in the Middle East, similar to the efforts of Task Force 59, which has been testing and operating unmanned surface ships in the region since 2021. However, the Navy’s eagerness to announce a fleet with a specific number of vessels did not align with the concerns of Persian Gulf allies.

Countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have expressed interest in investing in naval surveillance drones but have been hesitant to join a cooperative effort involving the sharing of sensitive information. Arab leaders in the Gulf have questioned the regional fleet idea and have been reluctant to share radar data as part of a U.S.-backed initiative to cooperate on air defense.

Despite initial optimism about meeting the 100-vessel goal, the Navy has faced challenges in persuading other navies to embrace unmanned naval vessels. The failure to reach the target has raised questions about the Navy’s credibility and the hype surrounding unmanned systems.

Moving forward, the Navy’s focus in the Middle East has shifted towards more combat-focused operations, with a new unit capable of deploying robots in combat operations. Analysts suggest that given the evolving nature of unmanned naval weapons and the lessons learned from conflicts like the war in Ukraine, the U.S. should allow for additional time for development in the unmanned naval sector.

Overall, while the Navy’s drone boat program may have fallen short of its initial expectations, experts believe that continued progress and development in unmanned naval technologies are essential for future operations in the region.