A commander facing incoming hypersonic missiles could send an uncrewed vessel at an angle toward the threat. The proposed decoy would enlarge its radar return while the crewed ships reduced theirs. Accepting the possible loss of the uncrewed partner would protect people and the ships carrying them. Larger uncrewed vessels could carry more supporting equipment, while dedicated support ships could deploy and recover smaller assets. This partnership resembles the loyal-wingman concept in aviation, scaled up for warships.
Notable Point · 46:04-47:22
An uncrewed sloop could draw missiles away from crewed ships
A proposed radar-decoy role uses an uncrewed partner's expendability to complicate attacks on the crewed ships.