Summary of Keynote Address
Addressing Global Security Demands through Advanced Capabilities and Partnerships
The 34th annual collaboration between the U.S. Naval Institute and AFCEA International focuses on acquisition and readiness to meet global security demands. Notable challenges include conflicts in Russia, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Iran's activity in the Middle East, and tensions between China and Taiwan. Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the 33rd Chief of Naval Operations, emphasizes the importance of harnessing technology, adapting to new challenges, and working together to maintain the Navy's position as the world's most powerful navy.
Redefining conflict through technological breakthroughs:
The Navy recognizes the urgency to integrate and adopt new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, unmanned platforms, directed energy, and hypersonic missiles, that are redefining conflict and reshaping warfare. To draw parallels from history, the Navy reflects on the 1930s and 1970s – decades of challenging security environments and a changing character of war – to strategize and navigate the current dynamic landscape. In the 1930s, leaders shifted from a platform-centric strategy to an integrated naval force, while in the 1970s, they recognized the need for new capabilities to contest sea control globally.
In response, the Navy is taking a similar approach today by viewing everything through a warfighting lens, investing in disruptive systems, exploring manned-unmanned teaming, bolstering fleetwide connectivity, and emphasizing the importance of people as the true strategic advantage. This urgent call to action requires unity of effort, a strong sense of resolve, and the integration of disruptive and emerging technologies to ensure the Navy remains the world's preeminent naval force.
Improving Sailors' Living and Working Conditions:
Admiral Franchetti highlights a priority for the navy the importance of addressing sailors' living and working conditions as a key initiative. This includes improving barracks with new furnishings, free Wi-Fi, and better cooking facilities, as well as addressing issues with parking and access to medical and mental health care. The overall goal is to provide a better quality of life for sailors, enabling them to recharge and focus on their work.
Additionally, the Navy is working on hiring more mental health providers, setting up wellness centers, and encouraging leaders to connect with their teams to understand and address their needs. In the context of the Navy's broader goals, Admiral Franchetti emphasizes the importance of a hybrid manned-unmanned Fleet and sets a realistic timeline for its implementation. This includes prototyping, experimentation, procurement, and operation of unmanned platforms, as well as the development of necessary infrastructure and networks.
The Navy is also focusing on partnering with allies and partners to advance unmanned technology. Admiral Franchetti acknowledges the challenges in recruiting and retention, emphasizing the need to retain high-quality sailors and address "sea blindness" by communicating the Navy's mission and value effectively. Lastly, Admiral Franchetti explains how NAV's mission and ship maintenance support the foundation pillar in the America's War Fighting Navy priorities, specifically by establishing guidelines for shipyard maintenance that will help ensure platforms are serviced efficiently and effectively.
CNO Franchetti: Navy Exploring Robotics Rating as Unmanned Systems Expand - USNI News
SAN DIEGO – A new robotics rating is likely coming to the Navy, the sea service’s top leader said on Tuesday.
The Navy is exploring the option of a robotics rating in order to build a team that would be responsible for the Navy’s unmanned platforms, Adm. Lisa Franchetti said during her keynote speech at the West 2024 conference, cohosted by AFCEA and the U.S. Naval Institute.
The sea service wants “a team who has the reps and sets in sensors, platform autonomy, and mission autonomy programs … and can provide input in machine learning feedback processes,” Franchetti said in her speech.
Although Franchetti previewed the forthcoming rating, little information is available about what the rating will look like.
A spokesperson with the Office of the Chief of Naval Personnel said that the Navy is still exploring the rating and nothing is yet official.
It is unclear where the robotics rating will fall. The Navy’s unmanned program is under Naval Air Systems Command.
The possibility of a robotics rating comes as the Pentagon writ-large is planning to expand its stable of unmanned systems in the near term.
A prime focus of the Defense Department in the near term is the Replicator initiative, the creation of a swarm of unmanned vehicles to solve specific battle problems the U.S. faces over the next few years. The first major challenge will be to disrupt the amphibious invasion of Taiwan by China using a combination of lethal unmanned surface and aerial vehicles.
In the longer term, the Navy is set to field a fleet of medium and large unmanned surface vehicles that will add sensors and magazine capacity of the fleet. The service is also expanding its unmanned aerial portfolio to include the MQ-25A Stingray refueling tanker, which will be the first unmanned aircraft to operate from a U.S. aircraft carrier.
The Navy is also working with robotic systems as part of its emerging mine countermeasures systems both expeditonary and part of its Littoral Combat Ship.
Franchetti said the new rating could be part of the future manned and unmanned teaming for the future fleet using examples of the unmanned systems tests with systems in U.S. 5th Fleet in the Middle East and U.S. 4th Fleet in the Caribbean.
“Unmanned systems have enormous potential to multiply our combat
power by complementing our existing fleet of ships, submarines, and
aircraft through manned-unmanned teaming,” she said.
“Especially in areas like maritime surveillance and reconnaissance, mine
countermeasure operations, seabed exploration and carrier air wing
support.”
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