Uncrewed Maritime Vessels: Shaping Naval Power in Hybrid Threat Operations

In his Working Paper for the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, Scott Savitz examines the current and potential future impact of uncrewed maritime vessels in the context of hybrid threats. It begins with a concise overview of these vessels, focusing on the basics of how they function in different maritime environments.

The Working Paper includes a brief overview of uncrewed maritime vessels, a dive in their history, current developments, and classes of uncrewed maritime vessels. Additionally it explores the employment of uncrewed maritime vessels in countering hybrid threat operations, and the use of USVs and UUVs in a hybrid threat scenario in the Baltic Sea. Finally, the Working Paper reviews recent USV and UUV developments by China, Russia and Iran.

The Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (UUV) Manta Ray by Northrop Grumman.

Uncrewed maritime vessels, including Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) and Uncrewed Undersea Vessels (UUVs), are gaining momentum in modern warfare and play an increasingly important role in addressing hybrid threats that blend military and non-military tactics.

These vessels operate either at the waterline (USVs) or below it (UUVs), and offer significant advantages in surveillance, intelligence gathering, and environmental monitoring.

Historically, uncrewed vessels have been used in naval warfare for centuries, but recent technological advancements have expanded their capabilities. USVs and UUVs are now integral to modern naval operations, especially for countering hybrid threats such as undersea sabotage or covert mining. Nations like China, Russia, and Iran are developing sophisticated uncrewed vessels for both military and civilian purposes, employing them for intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, and offensive missions.

USVs and UUVs can also be used as countermeasures to hostile operations, improving domain awareness and enabling timely responses to threats. Uncrewed vessels offer stealth, flexibility, and the ability to perform high-risk missions, positioning them as key assets in future maritime operations and hybrid warfare.

Read the full Working Paper: