February 11, 2026 at 8:45 PM
US Navy on the hunt for strike drones that can launch from any warship
The Navy is looking for armed drones that can be launched from austere locations or from surface warships other than aircraft carriers.
UnmannedBy Michael Peck Feb 11, 2026, 08:45 PMCivilian contractors embarked with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare to conduct a V-BAT drone flight aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore in the Philippine Sea, Aug. 9, 2022. (Cpl.
Cesar Ronaldo Alarcon/U.S. Marine Corps)The U.S. Navy wants long-range strike drones that can be launched from destroyers and other warships that lack large flight decks, according to a Defense Innovation Unit solicitation.The concern is that the Navy lacks enough aircraft carriers, aircraft and missiles to sustain an extended conflict against an adversary armed with long-range antiship missiles.