US Navy Video On Autonomous Swarming Boats

by SandWyrm


Obviously this is just a very early tech-demonstration. But it's a glimpse of the future.

A large ship, like a Destroyer or Frigate will be able to quickly launch (from deck-mounted slide-launchers), a dozen or so small craft. Basically flat Zodiac-like boats with flat, enclosed tops. A module plug-in could carry a retractable 50 cal. weapon, rockets, a 1-2 man set of seats (for rescue), a small radar system, cameras, etc. Depending on the mission, each boat could be equipped differently.

Extrapolate a bit, and you'll see similar systems pop up on land. Where a big, expensive Main Battle Tank can control a small swarm of scout drones. With which they can check down approaches for ambushes, flank or herd infantry towards themselves, or launch high-power RPGs from a small, hard-to-target, and fast-moving platform. Eventually, only the drones would carry actual weapons, and the operators would just sit in a very heavily armored APC/IFV.