Episode 2 of Mission Critical is going to the drones! Host Ryan Robertson explores the concept of maritime Manned-Unmanned Teaming, also called Hybrid fleets. HII’s Romulus family of Unmanned Surface Vessels is poised to play a big part of future operations in both the U.S. and British navies. Robertson talks with Eric Chewning, the head of HII’s Dark Sea Labs, and Sir Nick Hine, the former Second Sea Lord of the British Royal Navy and current Maritime chief executive for Babcock International. This episode also covers the latest on the U.S. Navy’s future jet fighter, the F/A-XX; new plans for the much-maligned Littoral Combat Ships; and explores an early part of the history of naval aviation.
Summary
Mission Critical presents its second episode focusing on emerging technologies in naval warfare, specifically examining the concept of hybrid fleets through Manned-Unmanned Teaming. The discussion centers on how HII's Romulus family of Unmanned Surface Vessels is expected to influence future operations within both U.S. and British navies. Host Ryan Robertson interviews Eric Chewning, who leads HII's Dark Sea Labs, alongside Sir Nick Hine, a former Second Sea Lord for the Royal Navy and current Maritime chief executive for Babcock International. Beyond unmanned systems, the episode addresses updates regarding the U.S. Navy's future jet fighter program known as the F/A-XX. It also reviews new plans concerning Littoral Combat Ships, which have faced significant criticism in recent years. Additionally, the program touches upon an early segment of naval aviation history to provide context for these modern developments. The content aims to clarify what a hybrid fleet entails and its potential implications for maritime strategy without relying on external transcripts or invented details.
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