The U.S. Navy has launched a one-way attack drone from a warship at sea for the first time, according to the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.
The milestone was achieved on 16 December when the Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) launched a Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) while operating in the Arabian Gulf. The U.S. Navy described the event as the first successful employment of a one-way attack drone from a naval vessel during operations at sea.
Vice Adm. Curt Renshaw, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet, said the launch demonstrated the pace at which unmanned capabilities are being introduced into frontline service. “This first successful launch of LUCAS from a naval vessel marks a significant milestone in rapidly delivering affordable and effective unmanned capabilities to the warfighter,” he said, adding that the event showed the value of innovation and joint collaboration in the region.
The launch was conducted by Task Force 59, NAVCENT’s unmanned and autonomous operations task force, which has been responsible for integrating new uncrewed systems into maritime operations. The U.S. Navy said the LUCAS drone launched from USS Santa Barbara is part of Task Force Scorpion Strike, a squadron established to field one-way attack drones with U.S. forces deployed to the Middle East.
U.S. Central Command announced earlier this month that the first U.S. military one-way attack drone squadron had deployed to the region. According to the U.S. Navy, LUCAS platforms can be launched using a variety of methods, including ship-based launches, catapults, rocket-assisted take-off systems, and mobile ground or vehicle launchers.
Renshaw said the introduction of the capability would have a direct operational effect in the region. “This platform will undoubtedly enhance regional maritime security and deterrence,” he stated.
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command serves as the maritime component of U.S. Central Command and is responsible for naval operations across an area covering the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean. The region includes several key maritime chokepoints, including the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandeb and the Suez Canal, which the Navy has identified as critical to global trade and security.
From a defending from strike point of view this sort of capability could become a real problem to defend against… when any small merchant can become a launch point for a strike, it’s a bit of a nightmare.. so many axis of potential attack, so difficult to track, it even becomes difficult to potentially see who ordered an attack…
Indeed as we already see if some of these ‘unknown’ drone incidents around Europe are indeed being launched from merchant ships. Very concerning that these things turn up over prized infrastructure even nuclear submarines in France and no one really knows for certain their origin, how they got there or who is behind them (as far as we are being told anyway). If these were one way attack drones it would be potentially disastrous. Let’s hope we are learning from these events.
One other point we are used to the US utilising weapons and technology first but frustrating that a weapon of this nature that almost any country can employ once again is first shown operational or in testing again by the US. Suggests a lack of urgency from others rather than lack of actual ability to achieve the capability.
The Epirus Leonidas system; High-Power Microwave reportedly works well, very high kill rate … failing that water cannons (at sea).
The UK has developed its own version of the Leonidas, known formally as the RF DEW (Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon) and commercially as RapidDestroyer, part of Project Ealing, a collaboration between the MoD, Thales UK, and QinetiQ.
The ups and downs; this kit is very expensive to build, Gallium Nitride (GaN). A Faraday shield might offer a drone some sort of protection, though copper or aluminum shielding add weight thus range and munition trade-offs and interior heat build up.
However, they only cost tuppence to fire and can clear a swarm in the firmament in one “blast”.
Yes, as we had when Saudi Arabia’s petroleum facilities were attacked some time ago, with no official state claiming responsibility, but it clearly originated from Iran. It’s also a way of overwhelming a modern ship’s defences, using a low / high mix of drone waves with missiles. The increasing range of relatively low cost land based anti-ship missiles – DF-17 is about 1,600 kilometres – also poses a serious threat. One internet search suggests that the unit cost of a DF-17 might be as low as $2 million (which seems incredibly low to me), whereas a conventional prompt strike missile, with a range of something like 3,000 kilometres could be over $50 million each. So again, there’s that relationship between what a relatively simple technology can do ‘on the cheap’ that outweighs its relative low cost, especially compared to high-end / expensive western tech.
Definitely a boost for the LCS’s, the long range gives them a much better standoff position. The “Cost-to-Kill” ratio will/should override their vulnerability, especially when the US sorts out and scales production.