A proposed force model gives each crewed ship its own group of modular 1,000- to 2,000-ton uncrewed vessels. An unmanned craft cannot host visitors, reassure through human commitment, or serve as the same political tripwire as a crewed ship. It can enlarge the visible task group, extend sensors and weapons, and form a distributed outer screen. Such craft still need optional crewing for maintenance and navigation, while their useful size is driven by ocean endurance, payloads, and rough-weather operation. The likely ocean-going workhorse is compared to a future Flower class able to carry towed sonar, uncrewed aircraft, missiles, torpedoes, or other modular systems.
Chapter · 1:27:20-1:36:21
How uncrewed vessels can extend presence
An uncrewed vessel cannot host diplomacy or serve as a credible human tripwire. Its sensors and weapons can still multiply the reach and apparent scale of a crewed warship.