Executive Summary
This report details the outcomes of the Naval Postgraduate School's Warfare Innovation Continuum (WIC) workshop, focusing on the future fleet. Participants explored emerging technologies like uncrewed systems, AI, and new fabrication techniques to develop concepts for gaining competitive advantages in near-future global conflicts. The workshop generated ten distinct concepts, ranging from layered defense to mobile maritime industrial bases, all aimed at shaping future naval warfare.
Why It Matters
This document is crucial for defense analysts as it outlines cutting-edge concepts and technologies being explored by the US Navy for future naval warfare, particularly focusing on autonomous systems and innovative force design. It provides insights into potential strategic shifts and technological priorities that will define maritime power projection in the coming decades.
Key Takeaways
- The US Navy is actively exploring advanced uncrewed systems, AI, and novel fabrication techniques to achieve competitive advantages in future naval conflicts.
- The workshop generated diverse concepts, including layered defenses, mobile industrial bases, and AI-driven targeting, highlighting a multi-faceted approach to future fleet design.
- Collaboration between military, academia, and industry, including international partners, is central to developing and implementing these innovative warfare concepts.
- The report emphasizes the shift towards decentralized, swarming, and minimally crewed systems, decoupling capabilities from large, integrated platforms.
- Future naval operations will heavily rely on expeditionary fabrication and rapid fielding of systems to maintain a competitive edge.
- The concepts developed will inform future research and development across the DoD, academia, and industry, shaping the next generation of naval capabilities.
Strategic Relevance
This report directly informs the strategic direction of naval force design and technological investment. It highlights the US Navy's proactive approach to integrating disruptive technologies like autonomous systems and AI into its future fleet, aiming to maintain a decisive competitive edge against peer adversaries. The concepts developed could lead to significant shifts in naval doctrine, procurement, and operational capabilities, impacting global maritime security and power balances.