There is a growing need to implement maritime defensive systems, covering both medium-range and close-in defenses. This is in response to the escalating threat posed by unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) in a rapidly changing environment. As unmanned technologies become more widespread and advanced, the proactive deployment of these defensive measures is becoming imperative. This strategic approach aims to reduce risks, protect vital assets, and bolster the Navy’s flexibility in adapting to the evolving dynamics of contemporary naval warfare. This initiative aligns with broader goals of upholding maritime security and contributing to regional stability amid rapidly shifting conditions in warfare. This perspective covers the relevant aspects of USV development, and the countermeasures being considered.
ManleyJE. Unmanned maritime vehicles, 20 years of commercial and technical evolution. In: OCEANS 2016 MTS/IEEE Monterey, Monterey, CA, 19–23 September 2016, pp. 1–6. New York: IEEE.
2.
BarreraCPadronILuisFS, et al. Trends and challenges in unmanned surface vehicles (USV): from survey to shipping. TransNav: Int J Mar Navig Saf Sea Transp2021; 15: 135–142.
3.
CorfieldSJYoungJM.Unmanned surface vehicles-game changing technology for naval operations. IEE Control Eng Ser2006; 69: 311.
4.
YanRJPangSSunHB, et al. Development and missions of unmanned surface vehicle. J Mar Sci Appl2010; 9: 451–457.
5.
LiuZZhangYYuX, et al. Unmanned surface vehicles: an overview of developments and challenges. Annu Rev Control2016; 41: 71–93.
6.
GrahamMM.Unmanned surface vehicles: an operational commander’s tool for maritime security. Naval War Coll Newport, Ri Joint Military Operations Department, Newport, RI, October2008, https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA494165***
7.
BaiXLiBXuX, et al. A review of current research and advances in unmanned surface vehicles. J Mar Sci Appl2022; 21: 47–58.
8.
YangTJiangZSunR, et al. Maritime search and rescue based on group mobile computing for unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned surface vehicles. IEEE Trans Ind Inform2020; 16: 7700–7708.
BorettiA.The perspective of fuel cell high-speed powerboats. Energy Technol2023; 11: 2300442.
13.
BorettiA.Advantages of plug-in hybrid electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft with hydrogen energy storage. Int J Hydrog Energy2024; 55: 339–346.
14.
CummingsM.Artificial intelligence and the future of warfare. London: Chatham House for the Royal Institute of International Affairs, 2017.
15.
ZhangYDaiZZhangL, et al. Application of artificial intelligence in military: from projects view. In: 2020 6th International Conference on Big Data and Information Analytics (BigDIA), Shenzhen, China, 4–6 December 2020, pp. 113–116. New York: IEEE.
16.
SvenmarckPLuotsinenLNilssonM, et al. Possibilities and challenges for artificial intelligence in military applications. In: Proceedings of the NATO Big Data and Artificial Intelligence for Military Decision Making Specialists’ Meeting, vol 1, Bordeaux, 30 May 2018.
17.
MorganFEBoudreauxBLohnAJ, et al. Military applications of artificial intelligence. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2020.
18.
FawkesAJ. Developments in artificial intelligence: opportunities and challenges for military modeling and simulation. In: Proceedings of the 2017 NATO M&S symposium, Lisbon, Portugal, vol 11, No. 1-12, October2017.
