Task Force 59 Archives

U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Feb. 13, 2025) Navy Diver 3rd class John Tichenor, attached to Commander, Task Group (CTG) 56.1, enters the water during a surface supplied dive as part of the International Maritime Exercise 25. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Thomas Brown/DVIDS)

Navy aims to expand maritime security cooperation in latest multinational Middle East exercise

More than 5,000 military personnel from across roughly 35 nations and international groups are embarking on a 12-day, U.S.-led event.

4 days ago By Brandi Vincent

220722-A-YK067-1035 MANAMA, Bahrain (July 22, 2022) Unmanned surface vessels sit as static displays, in Manama, Bahrain, July 22, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Terry Vongsouthi)

Central Command gets new chief technology officer

Joy Angela Shanaberger said she wants to scale up Centcom's innovation efforts.

Feb 6, 2025 By Jon Harper

Nov. 5, 2024 — An unmanned surface vessel, equipped with an aerial missile system, sails to its position for launch during exercise Digital Talon 3.0 in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (Photo by Spc. Karla Guerrero)

Navy plying new tactics while pairing kamikaze drones with robo-ships

The latest Digital Talon exercise, conducting earlier this month in the Middle East region, included a variety of robotic capabilities that could play a significant role in…

Nov 25, 2024 By Jon Harper

Commercial operators deploy Saildrone Voyager Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) out to sea in the initial steps of U.S. 4th Fleet’s Operation Windward Stack during a launch from Naval Air Station Key West’s Mole Pier and Truman Harbor, Sept. 13, 2023. (U.S. Navy photo by Danette Baso Silvers/Released)

Navy’s 4th Fleet sets sights on command center upgrades for drone ops

"We have the robots and we’re making lots of progress there, but in terms of what we have at the headquarters and how we actually manage the…

Jan 11, 2024 By Mikayla Easley

KITTERY, ME. Nov. 17, 2022, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard: Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti meets with leadership at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard during a visit which included briefs on the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program and Naval Sustainment System – Shipyards. (U.S. Navy photo by Jim Cleveland/Released).

New Navy CNO eyes unmanned systems, disruptive tech to augment force

“We will put more players on the field, which means ready players,” Adm. Lisa Franchetti said during her keynote speech at the Surface Navy Association’s annual symposium.

Jan 10, 2024 By Mikayla Easley

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)

Tech from Navy’s drone task force could support Operation Prosperity Guardian

Task Force 59’s contribution "provides some interesting highlights" about the unit's progress, a senior U.S. Central Command official told DefenseScoop.

Dec 20, 2023 By Brandi Vincent

A Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System launches munitions from a MARTAC T-38 Devil Ray unmanned surface vehicle, attached to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s Task Force 59, during Exercise Digital Talon in the Arabian Gulf, Oct. 23. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Justin Stumberg)

Robo-ship from US Navy task force launches missiles in Middle East region

A USV operated by Task Force 59 successfully attacked a target boat with a “Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System” during an exercise last week, according to U.S.…

Nov 2, 2023 By Jon Harper

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

How US Central Command’s task forces are shaping the future of operational AI

The Navy’s Task Force 59, the Air Force’s Task Force 99 and the Army’s Task Force 39 are exploring cutting-edge technologies that could give the U.S. military…

May 10, 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