The unmanned naval task force is pursuing an investment strategy similar to venture capital funding.
The Unmanned Task Force of the U.S. Navy is exploring candidates that might alleviate warfighter challenges within five years. The task force employs a venture capital-like approach to find potentially profitable ventures. The executive director of the task group states that AI-enabled marine domain awareness has emerged as a leading operator need.
Michael Stewart explains, “We wanted to ensure that we tackled an issue that genuinely mattered to the warfighter.” The Navy’s Unmanned Task Force investigates the most effective means of acquiring drone technology.
The task force’s steering committee is led by Vice Adm. Francis Morley, the principal military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development, and acquisition. Task Force 59 of the United States Fifth Fleet has employed commercially available technology to operational challenges.
Since Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday announced the formation of the Unmanned Task Force in September, the UTF has been mostly silent. “They’re aiming for the cutting edge of what commercial technology offers and then identifying the holes from a military standpoint,” adds Stewart. The task team will present a list of investment and acquisition suggestions.
