The US Navy fired its first live munitions from an unmanned surface vessel during an exercise. (US Navy)

Unmanned surface vessels (USVs) of the US Navy (USN) fired live weapons on 23 October during Exercise ‘Digital Talon' in the international waters surrounding the Arabian Peninsula – the first use of lethal munitions from USVs in the Middle East region, US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) confirmed on 1 November.

During the exercise, co-ordinated with and supported by Commander, Special Operations Forces Central Command, NAVCENT's Task Force 59, the USN's first unmanned and artificial intelligence task force, demonstrated the ability of ‘manned-unmanned teaming' with traditionally crewed ships to identify and target simulated hostile forces at sea, represented by a target boat, NAVCENT officials said.

An unmanned MARTAC T38 Devil Ray USV, equipped with a Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System, successfully scored direct hits each time during multiple firing events, NAVCENT officials said.

The tests relied on a human operator ashore at Task Force 59's Robotics Operations Center to make the engagement decisions.

The US Navy fired its first live munitions from an unmanned surface vessel during an exercise. (US Navy)

Unmanned surface vessels (USVs) of the US Navy (USN) fired live weapons on 23 October during Exercise ‘Digital Talon' in the international waters surrounding the Arabian Peninsula – the first use of lethal munitions from USVs in the Middle East region, US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) confirmed on 1 November.

During the exercise, co-ordinated with and supported by Commander, Special Operations Forces Central Command, NAVCENT's Task Force 59, the USN's first unmanned and artificial intelligence task force, demonstrated the ability of ‘manned-unmanned teaming' with traditionally crewed ships to identify and target simulated hostile forces at sea, represented by a target boat, NAVCENT officials said.

An unmanned MARTAC T38 Devil Ray USV, equipped with a Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System, successfully scored direct hits each time during multiple firing events, NAVCENT officials said.

The tests relied on a human operator ashore at Task Force 59's Robotics Operations Center to make the engagement decisions.

The US Navy fired its first live munitions from an unmanned surface vessel during an exercise. (US Navy)

Unmanned surface vessels (USVs) of the US Navy (USN) fired live weapons on 23 October during Exercise ‘Digital Talon' in the international waters surrounding the Arabian Peninsula – the first use of lethal munitions from USVs in the Middle East region, US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) confirmed on 1 November.

During the exercise, co-ordinated with and supported by Commander, Special Operations Forces Central Command, NAVCENT's Task Force 59, the USN's first unmanned and artificial intelligence task force, demonstrated the ability of ‘manned-unmanned teaming' with traditionally crewed ships to identify and target simulated hostile forces at sea, represented by a target boat, NAVCENT officials said.

An unmanned MARTAC T38 Devil Ray USV, equipped with a Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System, successfully scored direct hits each time during multiple firing events, NAVCENT officials said.

The tests relied on a human operator ashore at Task Force 59's Robotics Operations Center to make the engagement decisions.

The US Navy fired its first live munitions from an unmanned surface vessel during an exercise. (US Navy)

Unmanned surface vessels (USVs) of the US Navy (USN) fired live weapons on 23 October during Exercise ‘Digital Talon' in the international waters surrounding the Arabian Peninsula – the first use of lethal munitions from USVs in the Middle East region, US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) confirmed on 1 November.

During the exercise, co-ordinated with and supported by Commander, Special Operations Forces Central Command, NAVCENT's Task Force 59, the USN's first unmanned and artificial intelligence task force, demonstrated the ability of ‘manned-unmanned teaming' with traditionally crewed ships to identify and target simulated hostile forces at sea, represented by a target boat, NAVCENT officials said.

An unmanned MARTAC T38 Devil Ray USV, equipped with a Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System, successfully scored direct hits each time during multiple firing events, NAVCENT officials said.

The tests relied on a human operator ashore at Task Force 59's Robotics Operations Center to make the engagement decisions.

The US Navy fired its first live munitions from an unmanned surface vessel during an exercise. (US Navy)

Unmanned surface vessels (USVs) of the US Navy (USN) fired live weapons on 23 October during Exercise ‘Digital Talon' in the international waters surrounding the Arabian Peninsula – the first use of lethal munitions from USVs in the Middle East region, US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) confirmed on 1 November.

During the exercise, co-ordinated with and supported by Commander, Special Operations Forces Central Command, NAVCENT's Task Force 59, the USN's first unmanned and artificial intelligence task force, demonstrated the ability of ‘manned-unmanned teaming' with traditionally crewed ships to identify and target simulated hostile forces at sea, represented by a target boat, NAVCENT officials said.

An unmanned MARTAC T38 Devil Ray USV, equipped with a Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System, successfully scored direct hits each time during multiple firing events, NAVCENT officials said.

The tests relied on a human operator ashore at Task Force 59's Robotics Operations Center to make the engagement decisions.

The US Navy fired its first live munitions from an unmanned surface vessel during an exercise. (US Navy)

Unmanned surface vessels (USVs) of the US Navy (USN) fired live weapons on 23 October during Exercise ‘Digital Talon' in the international waters surrounding the Arabian Peninsula – the first use of lethal munitions from USVs in the Middle East region, US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) confirmed on 1 November.

During the exercise, co-ordinated with and supported by Commander, Special Operations Forces Central Command, NAVCENT's Task Force 59, the USN's first unmanned and artificial intelligence task force, demonstrated the ability of ‘manned-unmanned teaming' with traditionally crewed ships to identify and target simulated hostile forces at sea, represented by a target boat, NAVCENT officials said.

An unmanned MARTAC T38 Devil Ray USV, equipped with a Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System, successfully scored direct hits each time during multiple firing events, NAVCENT officials said.

The tests relied on a human operator ashore at Task Force 59's Robotics Operations Center to make the engagement decisions.