In the maritime operational context, uncrewed systems offer a “potential paradigm shift,” Commander Mauro Ghezzi – Naval Units Interface Section Leader in the Studies and New Programmes Office, within the Italian Naval Staff’s Naval Aviation Department – told the SAE Maritime Reconnaissance and Surveillance Technology conference in London in late January. Through using such systems, said Cdr Ghezzi, “We can change and reshape the landscape of maritime security.”
“In the ever-evolving modern maritime domain, drones have emerged as a vital capability,” he continued. “In some cases, they are changing the way we think about and conduct naval operations.”
Here, uncrewed systems present both opportunities and challenges. In the former context, UASs can help enhance threat detection and response capacity, enabling pro-active, timely, and flexible action in the fast-changing maritime domain, said Cdr Ghezzi. In the latter context, he pointed to the Red Sea shipping crisis, in which Yemen-based Ansar Allah (Houthi) rebels are using UASs and uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) to attack commercial and naval shipping in the Red Sea/Bab-al-Mandeb/Gulf of Aden corridor.
As regards delivering its own uncrewed system capability, the ITN is proceeding through the first phase of a three-phase roadmap.
This first phase is embodied in the deployment of the Boeing Insitu ScanEagle fixed-wing UAS onboard the ITN’s frigate flotilla. In November 2023, the first flight took place, from the lead FREMM frigate ITS Carlo Bergamini, as part of providing an initial capability. ScanEagle is operated via an embarked ground control station (GCS): integrating the GCS into the ship’s wider combat management system (CMS) is part of future capability development plans.
Launched via catapult and recovered via a hooking mechanism, ScanEagle provides line-of-sight intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capability out to 50 miles over a 17-hour flight-time. Current navy plans include deploying ScanEagle across at least 50 percent of the frigate fleet, and perhaps onboard the destroyer flotilla in due course.
Phase One also includes exploring and developing a rotary-wing UAS (RUAS) capability. The navy is in the early stages of this programme, which includes procuring Leonardo AWHero tactical RUASs plus a control capability designed for CMS integration. Sea trials are planned for late 2024 or 2025, said Cdr Ghezzi.
The AWHero is a heavy, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone, offering a range of payload options, including radar, electronic support measures (ESM), and communications/data relay.
For Phase Two, Cdr Ghezzi explained, the navy is seeking “UASs that can take off and land vertically, but have a forward-pushing propeller to change the vertical profile to the horizontal profile.” Such systems prospectively offer a reduced shipborne footprint. “We don’t have a candidate yet: we are looking for a solution,” said Cdr Ghezzi. A first candidate system is expected to be certified in 2025, prior to commencing onboard integration and testing.
Phase Two will encompass wider focus on CMS/GCS integration.
The navy’s development of VTOL UAS capability includes assessing two other classes of UAS, Cdr Ghezzi explained. The first is for a UAS weighing 50-100 kg and able to bring ISR and electro-optical (EO) capability; the second is for a lighter UAS weighing up to 12 kg and giving five hours’ endurance. The navy has yet to decide on any candidate systems, said Cdr Ghezzi, although a focus in both cases is on systems with a small onboard footprint.
Alongside assessing Italian UASs, the navy is considering international candidates. In November 2023, the ITN attended the UK Royal Navy’s (RN’s) trial of a General Atomics MQ-9B Mojave short take-off/landing remotely piloted air system (RPAS) onboard the RN aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. The ITN’s interest in the system includes capacity to provide airborne early warning (AEW) capability. “This could be a very viable solution which not only would give us the capability to [conduct] the AEW mission, but we can start talking about loitering munitions, some kinetic capability,” said Cdr Ghezzi. “So, we will follow this development.”
Phase Three, a longer-term evaluation process set to begin in the 2029-30 timeframe, will look at building ships designed for integrated uncrewed system operations, Cdr Ghezzi explained. “We will shift our centre of gravity progressively from a naval system … to a combat system. So, there will be a ship and a drone as a combat system,” he continued. “The future ships in our naval vision will have an uncrewed management system, which will be able to command and operate uncrewed air assets, uncrewed surface assets, and even uncrewed underwater assets.”
Across all three phases, the navy will address core integration challenges, including integrating ship and UAS operations (particularly to deliver real-time command and control and data exchange), and UAS and crewed helicopter operations. Alongside deploying UAS onboard its frigates and destroyers, the navy aspires to have such capability available for its Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura (PPA) multi-purpose offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and its aircraft carriers.
