"Next level": Unmanned U.S Navy boat fires weapons in Middle East for first time
CBSN
An unmanned U.S. Navy vessel fired "lethal munitions" in international waters in the Middle East, marking the first time such an exercise has been carried out in the region.
The exercise — dubbed Digital Talon — was carried out by the Navy's Task Force 59, a team focusing on unmanned and artificial intelligence, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command said in a news release. On Oct. 23, members of the task force identified and targeted simulated hostile forces using a method called "manned-unmanned teaming," officials said, and launched live munitions from an unmanned vessel to destroy a target boat.
The system "successfully scored direct hits each time," the news release said. The firing was overseen by a human operator ashore, who "made the engagement decisions."
