Original broadcast 6/29/25
In the final segment, Francis Rose hosts a deep-dive discussion with Timothy Walton of the Hudson Institute and Nick Guertin, former Assistant Secretary for Research, Development and Acquisition at the Navy, about the state of uncrewed and autonomous systems in the U.S. military—and the gap between strategy and spending.
Walton outlines a familiar frustration: while the Navy has embraced the importance of uncrewed systems in strategy and concept papers, its actual procurement of these systems remains limited. Over the past decade, billions have been invested in research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E), but little has materialized on the acquisition side. "We need to stop the never-ending RDT&E cycle and start procurement," Walton emphasized.
Guertin adds that Congress has begun to shift by parking funding for medium-sized uncrewed surface vessels (MUSVs) and supporting recent Requests for Proposals (RFPs). However, transitioning from strategy to execution requires more than contracts—it also demands the logistical infrastructure to deploy, maintain, and support autonomous platforms.
The speakers point to signs of progress, such as the Navy's effort to focus on a more streamlined MUSV platform capable of deploying Tomahawk-class missiles. However, questions remain about trade-offs—particularly in speed versus endurance—and whether these systems can meet operational goals without frequent refueling.
Drawing from his time overseeing operational testing, Guertin stresses the importance of validating capabilities at sea—not just on paper. He advocates for modular payloads and platforms that can be reconfigured based on mission requirements, enhancing flexibility across theaters.
Both experts agree that the Pentagon should avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. Walton proposes a diversified fleet architecture: from large unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) to surfboard-sized surface craft, to narco-sub-inspired designs that are cheap, expendable, and strategically useful.
Walton notes that this approach not only prepares the Navy for a potential conflict with China, but also helps expand the defense industrial base by lowering production costs and increasing scalability.
Guertin concludes with a call for greater adaptability: “It’s a very exciting time to be in this business… but the key is rapid operational adaptation.”
Key Takeaways:
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DOD strategy supports autonomy, but budget execution and procurement lag behind.
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New funding and RFPs show progress, but logistics and sustainment must follow.
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A heterogeneous, modular fleet of uncrewed systems can deliver scale and flexibility