Brad Cooper Archives

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (left) and Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces (right), speak with international service members during a visit to NAVCENT headquarters in Manama, Bahrain, Dec. 19, 2023. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Marita Schwab)

Houthis deploy unmanned kamikaze boat amid Operation Prosperity Guardian

The "introduction of a one-way attack USV is a concern,” the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command told reporters.

Jan 4, 2024 By Brandi Vincent

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 MANTAS T-12 unmanned surface vessel (USV), front, operates alongside Royal Bahrain Naval Force fast-attack craft RBNS Abdul Rahman Al-fadel during exercise New Horizon in the Arabian Gulf, Oct. 26, 2021. Exercise New Horizon was U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Task Force 59’s first at-sea evolution since its establishment Sept. 9, 2021. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dawson Roth)

Navy’s Task Force 59 reaches full operational capability as it works to build a ‘digital ocean’ of connected assets

Task Force 59 is developing a vast integrated network of sensors and unmanned systems.

Jan 10, 2023 By Brandi Vincent

Various unmanned systems sit on display in Manama, Bahrain, Nov. 19, prior to exercise Digital Horizon 2022. The three-week unmanned and artificial intelligence integration event, beginning Nov. 23, will involve employing new platforms in the region for the first time. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Brandon Murphy)

Navy looking to add vendors to $982M IDIQ contract vehicle for unmanned systems tech

The Navy released an RFI to gauge companies’ interest in pursuing access to the IDIQ-MAC pool of awardees for the Unmanned Surface Vehicle/Vessel Family of Systems.

Nov 28, 2022 By Jon Harper

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