It was last December that a large Yilong-2H unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) crashed into an Olympic Sports Center, resulting in a significant fire.
The US Navy faced a significant setback during a test last month off the coast of California. According to a report from Reuters, an unmanned surface vessel (USV) suffered a “software glitch” that left it dead in the water, while another sea-based drone “smashed into the idling boat’s starboard side,” resulting in a dramatic crash.
The two vessels, built by Saronic and BlackSea Technologies, have been undergoing testing with the US Navy. The results have been less than ideal. Just weeks earlier, another BlackSea autonomous vessel suddenly sped up—which caused a support boat to capsize, sending its captain into the water. Fortunately, no injuries were reported from the incident, but it illustrated how the US military’s drone technology still has far to go.
Neither the defense contractors developing the drones nor the US Navy have commented on the recent incidents.
The US Navy’s Drone Flops Are Getting a Lot of Attention
Soon after the story from Reuters ran, numerous other reports circulated that offered a similar version of events. Defense commentators have accused the US Navy of spending billions of dollars on drones, with little to show for it. That has led to speculation that the US Navy is on the wrong course.
However, even a Chinese military affairs expert acknowledged that such setbacks are commonplace.
“While US technology is advanced, some breakthroughs cannot be achieved without sufficient time and investment. Budget constraints and inflated expectations will only further delay progress,” Song Zhongping told China’s state-run Global Times media outlet—even as he further suggested that Washington had set an “unrealistic target” for the technology.
But Beijing has seen similar setbacks with both its aerial and sea-based drones.
It was last December that a large Yilong-2H unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) crashed into an Olympic Sports Center, resulting in a major fire. Indeed, that crash came just months after another aerial drone, reported to be carrying out environmental research, crashed into the South China Sea. The incident came as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was holding “punishment” drills around Taiwan—leading to speculation that the ostensibly civilian drone was actually carrying out reconnaissance when it plunged into the sea.
The US Navy Must Learn from Its Mistakes
These are indeed unfortunate mishaps, but software glitches are part of the testing process. This is the exact reason why the US military tests its systems in the first place. Even before the advent of drones, there have been multiple tragic accidents involving submarines—most infamously the US Navy’s USS Thresher (SSN-593), which sank during a deep-diving test in 1963 with all hands lost. Last year, China suffered its own setback when its Zhou-class nuclear attack submarine sank in port during construction—while a new North Korean frigate infamously capsized and suffered significant damage during its launch in June.
These incidents serve as a reminder that naval accidents are all too commonplace. It does not mean the end of the program or project; in many cases, it results in key lessons being learned and new procedures being introduced.
The US Army Air Corps Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress served as America’s workhorse bomber during World War II, even after the first XB-17 prototype crashed during a demonstration flight. The cause was identified as the control surfaces being locked during takeoff, which made it impossible for the pilot to control the aircraft. Instead of ending the program, the crash led to the implementation of a mandatory pre-flight checklist to prevent similar human error from occurring in the future.
The US Navy suffered a pair of embarrassing setbacks with one USV program. But there are far bigger issues the service faces, including delays in building and maintaining its warships, filling its ranks, and the threat from China in the Indo-Pacific. While it is unclear if the Navy is on the right course with unmanned surface vessels, it is better to find out in testing. The last thing the sea service needs is to face another costly mistake under battlefield conditions.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
