Navy exercise tests unmanned vessels, aircraft

The U.S. Navy announced the start of its first manned and unmanned capabilities exercise on Monday at Naval Base San Diego.

Executed by the Navy's 3rd Fleet, "Unmanned Battle Problem 21" will "generate warfighting advantages in integrating multi-domain manned and unmanned capabilities into the most challenging operational scenarios," a Navy statement said.

Unmanned systems, including the MQ-9 Sea Guardian and MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicles, Sea Hunter and Sea Hawk unmanned surface vessels and small and medium unmanned undersea vehicles with modular payloads will be involved in exercises.

The goal is further incorporation of drone-style aircraft and vessels in day-to-day operations and battle plans across land, sea and air domains, according to Navy officials.

"Our unmanned systems are a great force multiplier for our Navy," said Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas W. Harker, at a distinguished visitors' day for developers, contractors and Navy leaders on Friday. "They bring a lot of capability to the Fleet."

The unmanned systems are designed to work alongside the traditional, manned naval force.

"The overall goal is to integrate our unmanned capabilities across all domains to demonstrate how they solve CNO [Chief of Naval Operations] and Fleet Commander Key Operational Problems," said Rear Adm. Robert M. Gaucher, U.S. Pacific Fleet director of maritime headquarters.

"To get after these problems, UxS IBP21 [Unmanned Systems Integrated Battle Problems 21] will include maneuvering in contested space across all domains; targeting and fires; and intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance," Guacher said.

Vice Adm. Linda Fagan nominated as U.S. Coast Guard vice commandant
Washington DC (UPI) Apr 19, 2021 - Vice Adm. Linda L. Fagan was nominated as the next Vice Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Homeland Security announced on Monday.

The nomination by President Joe Biden, pending approval by the U.S. Senate, would make Fagan the Coast Guard's first female four-star admiral, the branch said in a press release.

She would replace Adm. Charles W. Ray in the position on June 18.

In a statement on Monday, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas called Fagan "a superb leader who, as the 32nd Vice Commandant, will guide the Coast Guard at a time when its mission of securing our maritime borders, ports, and waterways has never been more important."

The United States Coast Guard is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement branch of the United States Armed Forces, operating under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security during peacetime.

Its command can be transferred to the U.S. Department of the Navy at any time by the president or the Senate.

Fagan is currently commander of the Coast Guard Pacific Area, which includes oversight of missions from the Rocky Mountains to Africa's eastern coast, the Coast Guard said in a statement on Monday.

A 1985 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy, she is the only Coast Guard member to receive the Gold Ancient Trident award for long service in the field of Marine Safety.

"Vice Adm. Fagan is an outstanding leader with 36 years of Coast Guard operations, policy-making, joint service, and interagency experience," said Adm. Karl L. Schultz, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, in a statement on Monday.

"Throughout her distinguished career, she has been a top performer and a trailblazer," Schultz said.

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Understanding hidden diversity on coral reefs key to conservation
Washington DC (UPI) Apr 2, 2021
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