The Future of Naval Warfare: Orchestrating Drone Capabilities

Drones are revolutionizing naval combat, with leading navies investing heavily in drone technology across all domains. The U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) is at the forefront of this innovation, utilizing AI to coordinate unmanned air, surface, and subsurface assets simultaneously.

NAWCAD’s groundbreaking Optimized Cross Domain Swarm Sensing (OCDSS) software system is a game-changer for Navy operational planners. This cutting-edge program enables planners to simulate various combinations of aerial, surface, and subsurface drones and sensors to achieve diverse mission objectives. The successful trial of OCDSS at the NSWC Port Hueneme Coastal Trident exercise showcased its potential for enhancing unmanned swarm capabilities.

Raymond Koehler, the lead software developer of OCDSS, has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to swarm autonomy. His work earned him an “emergent engineer” award from the Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 2025, highlighting the significance of his team’s achievements in advancing unmanned systems utilization.

Application in Naval Procurement

NAWCAD’s OCDSS technology aligns with the Navy’s strategic shift towards unmanned systems at sea. Initiatives like the Defense Innovation Unit’s PRIME Small Unmanned Surface Vehicle program demonstrate the Navy’s commitment to leveraging drone capabilities for maritime operations.

The PRIME project aims to develop attritable small unmanned surface vessels capable of autonomously pursuing target vessels. Unlike current drone boat operations that rely on human operators via satellite uplink, PRIME seeks to establish a software-driven “collaborative intercept capability” for unmanned vessels to operate independently, adapting to dynamic scenarios without constant remote control.

With the integration of OCDSS and advancements in unmanned surface vessel technology, the Navy is poised to enhance its operational effectiveness and strategic capabilities in maritime environments.