As armed forces worldwide adopt unmanned platforms, the US Navy has decided to boost production of its Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) to 32 units per month to field these unmanned surface vessels (USV) in the Pacific to counter China.
The 16-foot (488 centimeters) GARCs, built by Maritime Applied Physics Corp, were first delivered to the US Navy’s Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadron 3 (USVRON 3) in February last year. According to US government contracting data, the Defense Department has already committed more than US$160 million for the system.
Rear Adm. Kevin Smith, the Navy’s program executive officer for unmanned and small combatants, was quoted saying last week on the sidelines of the Surface Navy Association’s (SNA) annual symposium that he expects to hit the production target of 32 GARCs per month later this year.
“We’re not there yet [but] they’re ramping up,” Smith said. “That’s where we’re looking at as far as gearing up.”
As per reports, 24 GARCs have already been delivered to the US Navy.
The program initially received funding under the Pentagon’s Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) initiative.
“All of our APFIT boats have been built, 24 of them, and they’re all over the country. And we’re looking at maybe sending some overseas,” Smith said during a panel at the SNA symposium.
US Armed Forces Focus On Autonomous Platforms
The plan to boost GARC production aligns well with the US Armed Force’s current initiatives in fielding autonomous platforms in all combat domains, such as the US Navy’s Project 33 and the Pentagon’s Replicator program.
The US Navy’s ‘Project 33’ is a comprehensive seven-point strategy to counter Beijing’s growing aggression in the Indo-Pacific region, with a focus on preparing for a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan by 2027.
The ‘Project 33’ initiative emphasizes the use of advanced robotic and autonomous systems for sea warfare, focusing on their practical application on the battlefield. The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Admiral Lisa Franchetti, unveiled the program in September last year.
“The Chairman of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has directed his forces to be prepared for war by 2027—our readiness will surpass theirs. Project 33 is how we will get more ready players on the field by 2027. Project 33 sets my targets for pushing hard to make strategically meaningful gains in the fastest possible time with the resources we influence,” Franchetti wrote in the 2024 Navigation Plan (NAVPLAN) for America’s Warfighting Navy.
The US Navy is shifting its focus towards maximizing efficiency and leveraging cutting-edge technologies rather than expanding its fleet, according to Admiral Franchetti.
Unveiling the ‘Project 33’ initiative last year, Admiral Franchetti noted the many battlefield innovations that have emerged in recent years, especially during the Russia-Ukraine War and the Red Sea Crisis. Ukraine’s effective use of sea drones helped suppress the Russian Black Sea fleet, while in the Red Sea region, Houthi forces employed drones to launch large-scale attacks on the US forces.
The admiral said that through these conflicts, the US military gained valuable insights into the future of naval warfare, such as the use of robotic platforms and more affordable munitions to impose “asymmetric sea denial.”
Besides, the Pentagon’s Replicator initiative, announced in August 2023, also focuses on delivering all-domain attritable autonomous systems (ADA2) to warfighters at a scale of multiple thousands. The program aims to deliver thousands of cheap, autonomous platforms in all combat domains by July 2025.
In May 2024, the Pentagon announced US$500 million in funding for the first tranche of Replicator systems.
Cheap USVs Humble Mighty Russian Navy
Notably, the current worldwide focus on scaling the production of USVs is also heavily influenced by the spectacular success these robotic platforms have achieved in the ongoing Ukraine war, especially on the Black Sea front.
On December 31, 2024, the Ukrainian military accomplished a historic feat by downing a Russian military helicopter using a missile fired from a sea drone. Ukraine employed the Magura V5 naval strike drone to hit a Russian Mi-8 helicopter.
In fact, Ukraine’s Magura-V5 drone boats have been instrumental in pushing back the Russian Black Sea fleet by attacking multiple vessels, thereby reducing Russia’s Black Sea Fleet’s combat capability. For instance, Ukraine successfully employed six MAGURA V5 multi-purpose unmanned surface vessels (USV) to sink the Russian Tarantul-III class missile corvette Ivanovets.
Due to Ukraine’s innovative use of these sea drones, Russia has failed to ensure the safe passage of its commercial shipping in the Black Sea despite its mighty Navy and large fleet size.
Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft Specifications
The GARC measures 16 feet and has a displacement of 1,633 kilograms (3,600 pounds), a top speed of 35 knots, and a range of over 740 kilometers (460 miles). These USVs enable research, testing, and operations that will allow integration throughout the surface, expeditionary, and joint maritime forces.
The first four Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Crafts (GARCs) were delivered to the US Navy’s Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadron (USVRON) 3 in February 2024.
USVRON Three reports to Surface Development Group (SURFDEVGRU) One, responsible for the maintenance, training, and manning oversight of USVs, Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyers, and the future USS Lyndon B. Johnson.
USVRON Three is currently conducting experiments and fleshing out concepts of operation for these robotic platforms.
USVs, including the GARCs, will provide additional warfighting capability and capacity to augment the US Navy’s traditional combatant force. They will also provide commanders with greater capabilities and employment options to increase the Fleet’s tactical and strategic advantages.
The increased production rate of GARCs will provide the US Navy with additional capabilities to counter China in the Pacific Region.
- Sumit Ahlawat has over a decade of experience in news media. He has worked with Press Trust of India, Times Now, Zee News, Economic Times, and Microsoft News. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Media and Modern History from The University of Sheffield, UK. He is interested in studying Geopolitics from a historical perspective.
- He can be reached at ahlawat.sumit85 (at) gmail.com
