Two US Navy drone ships have arrived in Yokosuka, Japan, marking the first US deployment of unmanned vessels aimed at China in the western Pacific.
“The unmanned surface vessels (USVs) Ranger and Mariner from Unmanned Surface Vessel Division ONE (USVDIV-1) arrived at Fleet Activities Yokosuka on September 18,” the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet said in a press release on Thursday.
The Wall Street Journal first reported on the deployment and noted that the vessels are testing surveillance and attack capabilities in the region that the US Navy will find useful against China. The drone ships are not equipped with missiles but are capable of carrying and launching them.
The Seventh Fleet said the two ships were participating in Integrated Battle Problem (IBP) 23.2, a Pacific Fleet exercise designed to “test, develop and evaluate the integration of unmanned platforms into fleet operations to create warfighting advantages.”
The US has deployed smaller drone boats to the Middle East to patrol waters near Iran, but they are less sophisticated than the Ranger, Mariner, and other vessels classified as USVs.
The US has been investing heavily in new weapons technologies as part of its preparations for a war with China. The USVs are part of a program known as Ghost Fleet Overlord that started in 2018 to integrate drone ships into the Navy. While capable of operating unmanned, the 190-foot Ranger was sent to Japan with a crew of 16 for monitoring purposes.
Just unzip and stick it out there, Mr president. Someday, you’ll meet someone who will trim your sails.
“unmanned vessels aimed at China”
somebody has the remote control, right?
is it Gilligan or is it the Skipper?
hopefully not Mr. Howell.
Daffy Duck has the remote.
Goofy is the backup.
There are multiple US military bases in Japan. Have been there for decades with Air, Sea, and Land capabilities. If there is a war against China, those will be the first responders or the first one being attacked.
Unmanned vessels aren’t more lethal or capable but it modernizes some existing capabilities while protecting personnel.
China has also developed the JARI multi-purpose unmanned combat vessel.
Japan ia a occupied country and couldn`t get rid of the yanks even if they wanted to , like Iraq when ask to leave the country the yanks refused point blank , Germany is occupied by the yanks , Britain is Americas air craft carrier with some 18 bases , they are all called RAF bases so Joe Public dosen`t call for them to be closed down , like they did when they told the yanks to get their nukes out of our country.
We occupy everywhere. To keep the peace. /s
Japan nor the other countries you mentioned are occupied by the US.
The US presence there is at the request of the host country in accordance with their security cooperation agreements.
Clearly, the War Wizards aren’t entirely confident in these “unmanned” vessels. They have windows and lifeboats. For those “monitors” of course.
Hopefully the Chinese will deploy some “drone ships” to Cuba. Fair is Fair; but Biden will not take it well.
“Ghost Fleet Overlord”. I feel chills. What Child comes up with these names??? they sound like a parody of the parody from The Office, where Michael Scott pens his spy thriller screenplay “Threat Level Midnight”.
Happens every time the US insists on meeting the Chinese. Xi is not young enough not to remember Desert Storm. When the US deploys all those assets, it plans to use them. When is Xi going to cancel all meetings? Besides, what’s to discuss? The good news is that we’re all finally unified and ready to make China pay for that “spy” balloon by forcing them into WWIII. …It wasn’t a “spy balloon?” Who cares?
I don’t care. You care? (Sarcasm)
The yanks know China can hit their carriers long before they can get within range for their air craft , so they are going with unmanned cheap drones , however they face the same fate if the yanks are insane enough to start a war ,
Nice targets for China & North Korea anti-ship missiles…!