SCO transfers Overlord Unmanned Surface Vessels to U.S. Navy - Naval News

Navy Vice Adm. Stephen T. Koehler, Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, was the keynote speaker.

“The future of our Fleet is a formidable manned and unmanned team,” said Koehler. “Where unmanned systems work in concert with, and enable enhanced capability of manned platforms; driving to an even more distributed and more lethal force.”

SCO initiated the Ghost Fleet Overlord Program in 2018 to accelerate the Navy’s adoption of unmanned and autonomous systems.

In partnership with the Navy, the objective of SCO’s Overlord Program was to convert large, commercially available vessels to autonomous operation. Designers installed perception and autonomy systems, automated and improved ship system reliability for extended missions and developed the command control and communications architecture.

“The Strategic Capabilities Office partnered with the Navy, Unmanned Maritime Systems (PMS 406) specifically, from the beginning of the Ghost Fleet Overlord Program,” said Jay Dryer, Director, Strategic Capabilities Office. “At transition, this enables PMS 406 and the larger team of operators, warfare centers and industry to not miss a beat, continue advancing this technology, and provide a real capability sooner. This is what SCO does best: integrate mature technologies to accelerate service priorities and create new capabilities for the warfighter.”