The U.S. Navy’s top admiral last week unveiled a new initiative – dubbed ‘Project 33’ – which is aimed at scaling robotic and autonomous systems across the fleet by 2027 and aims to ensure readiness for evolving technologies and their use in potential conflicts.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti highlighted that the evolving nature of warfare and the need to adopt robotic and autonomous technologies are guiding principles for the strategy, focusing on enhancing the fleet’s reach and lethality.
“If you look at the ways we’re trying to do that through implementing Project 33, which are really seven areas that as I worked with my team, with our four-star fleet commanders, these are areas that I can put my thumb on the scale,” Franchetti said during a Sept. 19 discussion hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
“We could make a difference in those areas, and it will make a meaningful contribution to our ability to be more ready by 2027,” she added.
Under this effort, the Navy aims to deploy significantly more robotic systems in operational settings over the next three years.
“As the Navy works on delivering a truly hybrid fleet to capitalize on that opportunity, nearer term operational challenges demand that we integrate proven robotic and autonomous capabilities as soon as possible,” the strategy reads.
By 2027 the Navy plans to integrate proven robotic and autonomous systems for routine use by the commanders who will employ them. The Navy also plans to integrate mature capabilities into all deploying Carrier and Expeditionary Strike Group certifications to refine their approach to command and control of manned-unmanned teams at sea.
“Our next phase in this innovation cycle will prioritize key operational problems across critical mission areas such as surveillance, fires, networking, logistics, and deception,” Franchetti said.
Project 33 – a reference to Franchetti serving as the Navy’s 33rd CNO – is part of the service’s larger vision ‘Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy,’ unveiled on Sept. 18.
The overarching strategy emphasizes two main objectives: preparing for a potential conflict with China by 2027 and enhancing the Navy’s long-term advantages. The admiral noted that “China presents a multidomain challenge not just for [the] military but economically and in a lot of other competitive areas.”
Franchetti also emphasized the lack of transparency in China’s global actions and its use of dual-use technologies to further its interests. And she highlighted the changing nature of warfare, particularly the integration of new technologies.
“We need to be able to adopt robotic, autonomous, cheaper technologies to help us complement and extend the reach and lethality of our conventionally manned fleet,” she said.
As part of this strategy, Project 33 sets forth seven core readiness targets for the fleet, with the goal of “expanding the Navy’s contribution to the Joint warfighting ecosystem.” One of these targets focuses on accelerating the integration of robotic platforms and autonomous systems.
Additionally, the Pentagon’s Replicator effort is aiming to accelerate the fielding of uncrewed surface vessels and unmanned underwater vehicles for the Navy.
The Replicator initiative – which is overseen by the Defense Innovation Unit – aims to field thousands of innovative systems across multiple domains and into the hands of warfighters by August 2025, as part of the Pentagon’s strategy to counter China’s rapid armed forces buildup.
