5th Fleet Archives

An Aerovel Flexrotor unmanned aerial vehicle launches from the deck of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) in the Gulf of Oman, in an image released Oct. 6, 2023. (Photo by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs)

US Navy task forces use slew of drones in recent operation to keep tabs on Iranian military assets

The Navy is pursuing a variety of robotic platforms as it moves toward a hybrid fleet of crewed and uncrewed systems.

Oct 6, 2023 By Jon Harper

Two unmanned surface vessels, a Devil Ray T-38 and Saildrone Explorer, operate in the Gulf of Aqaba, Sept. 10, during Eager Lion 2022. (U.S. Navy photo)

Navy to expand unmanned systems campaign to 4th Fleet this summer

A new Navy effort to integrate unmanned systems into 4th Fleet in Central and South America will kick off in July, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro announced.

Apr 4, 2023 By Jon Harper

Rear Adm. Wikoff tapped to command Navy’s 5th Fleet, which oversees unmanned task force

If confirmed, Wikoff's assignments would connect him to Task Force 59, which is developing a “mesh network” of unmanned surface vessels and other assets enabled by artificial…

Jan 27, 2023 By Jon Harper

Sea Hunter, an autonomous unmanned surface vehicle, arrives at Pearl Harbor to participate in the Rim of Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aiko Bongolan)

Navy keen on containerized payloads to maintain flexibility for possible medium unmanned vessels

The Navy has been experimenting with a variety of unmanned surface vessels and payloads.

Jan 13, 2023 By Jon Harper

A Marine Advanced Robotics WAM-V unmanned surface vessel operates in the Arabian Gulf, Nov. 29, during Digital Horizon 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Brandon Murphy)

5th Fleet commander reveals ‘takeaways’ from recent exercise with AI-enabled drones

During its first-ever Digital Horizon event, the Navy's Task Force 59 brought together 17 commercial partners and applied 15 advanced unmanned data integration and AI systems.

Jan 12, 2023 By Brandi Vincent

A Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessel and Egyptian Navy frigate ENS Alexandria (F911) operate in the Red Sea in support of the newly established Combined Task Force 153, April 21, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Cpl. DeAndre Dawkins)

Navy developing new mesh network of robo-ships enabled by sensors, AI and the cloud

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command is creating a “mesh network” of unmanned surface vessels that can transmit ISR data via the cloud.

Oct 13, 2022 By Jon Harper