The US initiative to develop a fleet of naval drones, designed to counter potential threats from China, has been marred by a series of technical failures and management issues, according to multiple sources. The Pentagon’s program, which has received $5 billion in funding under President Donald Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ appears to be struggling with critical challenges that have raised questions about its effectiveness and cost-efficiency.
In a recent test off the coast of California, an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) unexpectedly stalled, leading to a collision with another drone that crashed into the water. A separate incident saw an autonomous boat accelerate uncontrollably, causing its support vessel to capsize and sending its captain overboard. Although the captain was unharmed, these incidents highlight the program’s instability and the risks associated with its current design.
The Pentagon has taken several steps in response to these problems. It has indefinitely halted a $20 million contract with a software provider, and the Program Executive Office Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC), which oversees the drone development, is under review. Rear Admiral Kevin Smith, the head of PEO USC, was recently dismissed after losing official confidence, underscoring the severity of the situation. The program’s failures have also prompted criticism from officials, including US Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Fein, who expressed skepticism about the capabilities and effectiveness of the drones.
Experts suggest that the issues may result from a combination of software malfunctions and communication errors between onboard and external systems. The Pentagon’s leadership has yet to fully address the underlying problems, and the program’s future remains uncertain. The challenges faced by the US drone initiative have drawn attention to the broader complexities of developing autonomous systems for military use, raising concerns about their readiness and strategic value in potential conflicts with China.
Given the program’s difficulties, there is an increasing likelihood of restructuring or even the shutdown of the PEO USC. The Pentagon’s inability to resolve these technical and management issues has cast doubt on the feasibility of its long-term goals, including its vision to arm itself with swarms of unmanned boats to protect Taiwan in the event of a military confrontation with Beijing.