Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle shakes hands with Rear Adm. Melvin Smith, commander of Submarine Group Two (COMSUBGRU 2), at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Robotic and Autonomous Systems Warfighting Development Center on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Norfolk, Virginia, Sept. 24, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Bellino)
A drone shot down by Genesis Arms Gen-12 SBM during exercise Falcon Peak at Cibola Site 17, Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, Sept. 22, 2026. (Dept. of Defense photo by SSgt. Colten Tessness)
SAN DIEGO (Aug. 6, 2025) – Seahawk, a Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) prototype, departs Naval Base Point Loma, California, Seahawk is a fully unmanned and autonomous vessel operated by Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadron (USVRON) 1 and Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific in support of technology development, testing and evaluation. The surface force is integrating unmanned vessels into the fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Robert Zahn)
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine visits Joint Task Force Southern Border in Sierra Vista, Az. April 19, 2025. DOD photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist James Mullen)
“We have to assume from now on that our formations will be hunted by autonomous systems, jammed across the spectrum, and tracked in real time," Gen. Dan…
U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Allen Steele III, a light armored reconnaissance master gunner with LAR Company F, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, conduct a kinetic strike rehearsal during the Marine Corps Attack Drone Competition at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Aug. 13, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joshua Barker)
Defense officials have touted competitions as a way to test new systems, share tactics across the force, identify talent and grow an institutional focus toward small drones…
U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Jason T. Hinds, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa commander presides over a Silver Star ceremony at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 3, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandra M. Longfellow)
Michael Dodd, assistant secretary of war for critical technologies, shakes hands with the newest members of the U.S. Air Force during a Joint Enlistment Ceremony at Indianapolis Motor Speedway at Speedway, Indiana, May 17, 2026. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Austin Goss)
“I’ll say it here, I’m going to knuckle roll the other services to do the same," said Michael Dodd, assistant secretary of defense for critical technologies.
Sailors assigned to Unmanned Undersea Vehicle Group (UUVGRU) 1 and Undersea Vehicle Squadron (UUVRON) 3 conduct training with the Navy’s newest Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (LUUV), the Anduril Dive-LD, in Keyport, Washington, Dec. 11, 2024. (U.S. Navy photo by Loren Nichols)
