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5d ago

Navy Establishes Robotic and Autonomous Systems Warfighting Development Center

The new Little Creek center will link fleet testing to a dedicated acquisition office to speed the delivery of combat-ready unmanned maritime systems.

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From left to right, Vice Adm. Yvette Davids, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans, Strategy, and Warfighting Development, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle, Rear Adm. Melvin Smith, commander of Submarine Group Two (COMSUBGRU 2), and Lt. Cmdr. Johnny Kim, the senior attending representative for the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems, cut the ribbon at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Robotic and Autonomous Systems Warfighting Development Center on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Norfolk, Va. on Sept. 24, 2026. (Photo: U.S. Navy by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Bellino).
US Navy 090210-N-9671T-144 A port security boat patrols the waters near Kuwait Naval Base
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Overview

  • The Navy formally stood up the Robotic and Autonomous Systems Warfighting Development Center at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story on Sept. 24 as an Echelon 3 command under U.S. Fleet Forces Command.
  • Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle named Rear Adm. Melvin Smith as the inaugural commander to lead a phased near-, mid-, and long-term implementation plan for structure, missions, and resources.
  • RASWDC will write doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures and run realistic tests and training that force unmanned platforms to operate under stress and in degraded communications so sailors can employ them in combat.
  • The center will operate alongside the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Robotic and Autonomous Systems so fleet test data and training results flow directly to the office that sets acquisition, standards, budgets and fielding decisions.
  • The move responds to real-world uses of unmanned vessels this year and signals the Navy will retire or modify systems that fail operational tests while scaling those that prove reliable, with implications for sailor training, logistics and future buys.