America’s ‘Ghost Fleet’: A Ship-by-Ship Breakdown of the Autonomous Ships Boosting Navy Firepower

• The U.S. Navy is betting big on unmanned ships.
• Cheaper and faster to build than traditional ships, autonomous vessels could help the Navy boost firepower at a time when shipbuilding is expensive and slow.
• Informally known as the “Ghost Fleet,” the service’s current unmanned ships are paving the way for a much larger fleet in the future.

One of the most enduring nautical legends is that of the ghost ship, a ship without a crew found sailing the world’s oceans. While legends speak of ships that are cursed, haunted, or have crews that were victims of foul play, a new generation of ghost ships are intentionally unmanned. The U.S. Navy wants an entire fleet of these autonomous ghost ships, sailing into harm’s way—so real human sailors don’t have to. Here’s everything you need to know about them.

Read Full Article