Military & Secret Tech

Fresh from his latest research trip to Ukraine’s battlefields, Michael Kofman joins Ryan for an insightful discussion on the shifting dynamics at the front, the role of drones in Ukraine’s defensive strategy, and the adaptation of Ukrainian military command structures in real time. They explore the political turmoil gripping Ukraine, including contentious reforms targeting anti-corruption agencies, and delve into evolving Western efforts for supplying arms to Ukraine. Their conversation also tackles the implications of President Trump’s growing frustration with Putin and provides a clear-eyed assessment of Senator Graham’s proposed Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, and what it might mean (or, not mean) for the future of the conflict. Kofman goes into many of these issues further in his show, “The Russia Contingency,” so don’t miss out on becoming a member. Join at warontherocks.com/membership

Tonight’s Evening Brief for July 29, 2025, brings you the latest. As the United Nations pushes for a two-state solution and Israel pushes back, Sudan’s hunger crisis worsens, and deadly insurgent violence grips Burkina Faso. Meanwhile, Trump tightens the screws on Putin, Russian missiles keep falling on Ukraine, and the Pentagon gets its marching orders for a massive $150 billion defense package. Let’s get into it.—

UN Conference Issues ‘New York Declaration’ Backing Two-State Solution, Israel Rejects Plan
High-level representatives at a United Nations conference in New York issued the “New York Declaration” on Tuesday, calling for the creation of an independent, demilitarized Palestinian state alongside Israel.
The declaration outlines a phased peace plan aimed at ending both the Gaza war and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict, now entering its eighth decade.
Led by France and Saudi Arabia, along with the European Union (EU), Arab League, and 15 nations, the declaration includes collective commitments to end the Gaza war, implement a ceasefire, transfer governance to the Palestinian Authority, and deploy a temporary UN-backed stabilization mission.
The plan also urges global recognition of a Palestinian state as a prerequisite for peace.
The declaration marks the first time Arab nations have formally condemned Hamas for its October 7 attack on southern Israel in 2023, which killed around 1,200 civilians and resulted in the capture of 250 hostages. Simultaneously, it condemns Israel’s continued offensive in Gaza, accusing it of siege tactics, starvation, and mass civilian casualties—now reportedly exceeding 60,000 deaths according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Israel, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, rejected the two-state proposal and the conference itself, citing national security and sovereignty concerns. The US also boycotted the meeting, labeling it “unproductive and ill-timed.”

The EU is fully committed to achieving lasting peace in the Middle East region–our immediate neighbourhood.
We support the two-state solution in accordance with intl law.
~🇪🇺Cssr @dubravkasuica at the High-Level Conf on the Palestine & Two-State Solutionhttps://t.co/p9XZ8K616P pic.twitter.com/IndrEc6O6T
— 🇪🇺EU at UN-NY (@EUatUN) July 29, 2025

Despite the pushback, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to recognize Palestinian statehood by September unless Israel initiates a ceasefire and peace process. Their positions make France and United Kingdom the first G7 countries to back Palestinian recognition within this framework.

Thirteen Children Die of Starvation in Darfur Camp as Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis Worsens
Thirteen children died of malnutrition-related causes last month in the Lagawa displacement camp in East Darfur, Sudan, according to the Sudan Doctors Network.
The camp, home to over 7,000 mostly women and children, faces extreme food shortages as Sudan’s civil war continues to cripple aid access.
Since the conflict erupted in April 2023 between Sudan’s military and the Rapid Support Forces, the nation has plunged into the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
UNICEF reports a 46 percent surge in severe acute malnutrition cases across Darfur, with over 40,000 children treated in North Darfur alone from January to May.
Famine is spreading in Darfur and Kordofan, while Sudan’s collapsed health system faces outbreaks of cholera, measles, and malaria. Aid agencies continue to call for unimpeded humanitarian access, but efforts remain blocked by ongoing hostilities.

The United States is set to host foreign ministers from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE on July 30 to discuss peace efforts to end the Sudanese civil war, according to @FT and @TheAfricaReport.
Africa Team Lead @liam_karr writes that US negotiators should engage with these… https://t.co/C6ngcebbDF pic.twitter.com/aQdyhBdDgD
— Critical Threats (@criticalthreats) July 29, 2025

The war has killed thousands and displaced 13 million people, with 4 million fleeing to neighboring countries. The UN and human rights groups have documented mass atrocities, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly in Darfur.

Militant Attack on Burkina Faso Base Kills 50 Soldiers, JNIM Suspected
An armed assault on a military base in Dargo, northern Burkina Faso, left around 50 soldiers dead, according to local sources who spoke anonymously due to fear of reprisals.
The attack occurred Monday and is believed to have been carried out by Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-linked militant group active across West Africa.
Witnesses said approximately 100 militants stormed the base, looted supplies, and set fire to the facility after the killings. The military junta, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has not publicly commented on the incident.
JNIM has been responsible for a growing number of deadly attacks on both civilians and security forces throughout the Sahel. The group’s expanding control over rural areas has contributed to Burkina Faso’s deepening security crisis and fueled consecutive military coups.
Despite promises to curb jihadist violence, Traoré’s government has struggled to regain territory or suppress insurgent operations, with militants now operating freely in most areas outside the capital.

Congress Sends $150 Billion Defense Spending Guidance to Pentagon
The House and Senate Armed Services Committees have delivered formal guidance to the Pentagon on how to allocate $150 billion in defense funding from the recent reconciliation bill, outlining lawmakers’ priorities for missile defense, munitions production, airpower, and Army modernization.
According to a report by Breaking Defense, the Department of Defense (DoD) has until August 22 to submit its implementation plan.
Missile Defense – Golden Dome Focus
The funding guidance emphasizes the Trump administration’s “Golden Dome” missile shield. Congress earmarked:

$2.2B for Glide Phase Interceptor development
$800M for the Next Generation Interceptor, including $60M for midcourse missile interception tests
$65M to ramp up Standard Missile-3 Block IIA production to 36 units per year

The Missile Defense Agency must submit detailed spending plans for each initiative.
Air Force and Munitions Expansion
High-profile Air Force programs will see massive boosts, including:

$4.5B for the B-21 Raider stealth bomber
$2.5B for the LGM-35A Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)
$1.5B for cruise missile development, including $745M for palletized munitions and $500M for Ukraine’s Extended Range Attack Munition

The Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) program receives $400M to produce 240 missiles, split between the Navy and Air Force. Lawmakers also backed expanding Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) AIM-120D missile production, citing rising foreign demand and future use on Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
Army Programs Rescued or Accelerated
Lawmakers pushed to reverse Army budget cuts under the Army Transformation Initiative:

$63M to keep GE’s Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP) alive for UH-60 and AH-64 helicopters
$92.5M to finish prototyping Textron’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV), previously targeted for cancellation
$250M to purchase 38 more BAE Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles
$85M to accelerate Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Increment 4 development by Lockheed and Raytheon/Northrop
$4.5M for Anduril’s Roadrunner-Munition, a high-explosive interceptor designed to counter threats like Iran’s Shahed drones and full-size aircraft

Congressional leaders emphasized that the spending should enhance US military readiness, boost the defense industrial base, and maintain superiority against peer adversaries.
Pentagon officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have committed to aligning spending with the guidance.

NTSB Launches Hearings on Deadly DC Midair Collision Between Jet and Army Helicopter
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) began three days of hearings on Wednesday to investigate the January midair collision over Washington, D.C., between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger jet that killed 67 people.
The incident is the deadliest US air crash since 2001 and has raised serious questions about military and civilian airspace coordination.
The crash occurred as American Airlines Flight 5342, carrying 64 people, approached Reagan National Airport. Simultaneously, a US Army Black Hawk, with three crew members onboard, was practicing emergency evacuation routes. The helicopter crew was wearing night-vision goggles, limiting visibility, and may have had inaccurate altitude readings. The helicopter’s radio transmission was partially blocked, possibly causing them to miss an air traffic controller’s last-minute directive to pass behind the jet.
NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy confirmed the Black Hawk was flying above its permitted altitude and that the crew misjudged their height. Flight controllers had approved the helicopter’s request for “visual separation” with the jet just 20 seconds before impact.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had already logged 85 near misses in the same airspace over three years but failed to take corrective action until after the fatal incident. The agency has since banned helicopters from that route.
The hearings focus on helicopter flight paths, controller workload, outdated air traffic control systems, and failures in collision avoidance technology. During the crash, one air traffic controller was managing both commercial and military traffic.

NTSB Releases Agenda for DCA Midair Collision Investigative Hearing: https://t.co/YN7MGR3Crd pic.twitter.com/FyO7LJ6y0q
— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) July 22, 2025

Among the dead were the Black Hawk crew, Capt. Rebecca Lobach, Staff Sgt. Ryan O’Hara, and Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Eaves, along with multiple civilians, including elite figure skaters, union workers, and foreign nationals aboard the passenger jet. A tribute event for victims raised $1.2 million.
The crash adds to a troubling series of aviation tragedies in 2025, including the deadly Air India crash in June and multiple fatal small aircraft incidents in the US and abroad.
Investigators and aviation officials cite an overburdened, outdated air traffic system, and insufficient safeguards for military-civilian coordination in congested airspace.
President Donald Trump initially blamed the crash on the helicopter crew and on diversity efforts within federal agencies, later shifting criticism to the “obsolete” air traffic control system.
Analysts expect the hearings to drive demands for urgent reform across US aviation oversight and military flight operations.

Trump Announces US-Israel Food Aid Plan for Gaza Amid Growing Pressure and Internal Divisions
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the US will partner with Israel to operate new food centers in Gaza, responding to international outrage over worsening famine conditions in the war-torn territory.
Trump provided few details but said Israel would oversee distribution “to make sure it’s proper,” adding, “They’ll be good at doing it.”
The plan comes as images of starving children in Gaza spark backlash and congressional Democrats demand stronger US action. Trump’s announcement marks a break with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he publicly disagreed with over claims of “no starvation” in Gaza.
The White House has called it a “new aid plan,” but details remain vague.

Watch the Department Press Briefing with @StateDeptSpox Tammy Bruce, from the Press Briefing Room of the State Department. https://t.co/SFxTlr8XjL
— Department of State (@StateDept) July 29, 2025

The proposal appears similar to an existing program launched in May by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an Israeli-backed US contractor. That program has been criticized by the UN for violating humanitarian principles and placing Palestinian civilians at risk, hundreds have reportedly been killed near GHF aid sites located in Israeli military zones.

Russian Strikes Kill 27 Across Ukraine as Trump Issues 10-Day Ultimatum to Putin
Russian airstrikes overnight killed at least 27 people and wounded over 130 in multiple regions of Ukraine, targeting civilian infrastructure including a prison, hospitals, and residential areas.
The attacks come despite a shortened ultimatum by US President Donald Trump, who warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that he has 10 days (until August 8) to halt the war or face sanctions and tariffs.
Four Russian glide bombs hit Bilenkivska Correctional Facility in Zaporizhzhia, killing 16 inmates and injuring more than 90 others. In Dnipro, missiles struck medical facilities, including a maternity hospital, killing at least five people, among them a pregnant woman. Additional fatalities occurred in Kharkiv and Kherson regions, while a grocery store in Kharkiv was also hit.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Russian strikes affected 73 cities, towns, and villages. He called the attacks deliberate and welcomed Trump’s tightened timeline.

Yesterday, very important words were spoken by President Trump about how the Russian leadership is wasting the world’s time by talking about peace while simultaneously killing people. We all want genuine peace – dignified and lasting: Ukraine, all of Europe, the United States,… pic.twitter.com/w1HjWbXFmw
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 29, 2025

The Kremlin pushed back. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned that ultimatums risk escalating into direct US-Russia conflict. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted Russia remains committed to its military goals in Ukraine, while also claiming openness to peace efforts.

Trump’s playing the ultimatum game with Russia: 50 days or 10… He should remember 2 things:1. Russia isn’t Israel or even Iran.2. Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country. Don’t go down the Sleepy Joe road!
— Dmitry Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE) July 28, 2025

The Ukrainian Air Force reported shooting down 32 of 37 Shahed-type drones launched alongside two Iskander-M ballistic missiles.
Russia also claimed advances on the ground, capturing villages in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia.
Meanwhile, Ukraine launched retaliatory long-range drone attacks, striking infrastructure in Russia’s Rostov region. One person was killed in Salsk after a drone hit the railway station, causing explosions and halting train operations.

NEW | US President Donald Trump announced a new deadline for Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine no later than August 9. pic.twitter.com/lOutV9V9zw
— Critical Threats (@criticalthreats) July 28, 2025

The Bilenkivska prison strike occurred on the anniversary of the Olenivka detention facility explosion, which killed over 50 Ukrainian prisoners in 2022. A UN analysis and the Associated Press investigation point to Russia as responsible for that previous incident, adding to accusations of repeated war crimes.

Thailand-Cambodia Ceasefire Holds Tentatively Amid Renewed Skirmishes, US Trade Pressure
A fragile ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia remained in place Tuesday, despite renewed skirmishes and lingering tensions along their disputed border.
The truce, brokered in Malaysia under US pressure, was quickly tested after Thailand accused Cambodia of launching attacks at several locations.
A fresh clash at Phu Makhuea prompted a Thai military response.
Military commanders from both sides met to de-escalate and agreed to coordinate ahead of an August 4 joint border committee meeting.

BREAKING:
Thailand issues an official statement on Cambodia’s decision to break the ceasefire by attacking Thai territory again.
Thailand will inform the U.S. and China about “Cambodia’s lack of sincerity” pic.twitter.com/YHAd9Cr8XR
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) July 29, 2025

Cambodia denied violating the ceasefire and pledged transparency, inviting observers to monitor the situation.
The ceasefire follows mounting economic pressure from the US, with President Trump threatening to halt trade negotiations unless hostilities ended.
Trump later praised the ceasefire and promised US involvement in monitoring efforts. With a 36 percent tariff set to hit both countries Friday, the ceasefire offered a diplomatic off-ramp.
The conflict, sparked by a land mine incident last week, has killed at least 41 and displaced over 260,000 people. Border residents expressed cautious optimism, though many remain skeptical of long-term peace. Analysts warn the truce is politically fragile and dependent on deeper resolutions, including border demarcation and economic incentives.

Sources: News Agencies

João Paulo Moralez

João Paulo Moralez is a Brazilian journalist and photographer specializing in Aviation and Public Security. He has a degree in Social Communication, specializing in Scriptwriting for Productions, and a postgraduate degree in Organizational Communication and Public Relations from the Cásper Líbero School. He has written several articles for foreign segmented magazines and is the author of the books EMB-312 Tucano Brazil’s turboprop success story and EMB-314 Super Tucano Brazil’s turboprop success story continues.

I was a platoon commander with reserve UDT-22 (Underwater Demolition Team 22) in Little Creek, Virginia, in June of 1980. I had been promoted to lieutenant (SEAL) following a previous platoon commander tour with UDT-11. The current platoon had 21 men, including my assistant platoon commander and chief petty officer.
We formed the platoon into squads of seven men each; a senior NCO or officer was in charge of each squad. We trained for everything daily. Diving, free fall, and static line parachuting, demolition, beach surveys, shooting, rappelling, and surf work with boats kept us busy. A lot of what we trained to do was carry out common tasks, but we were testing new ideas regularly. The fast rope rappelling method to insert from hovering helicopters was new and fun. The IBS (Inflatable Boat Small) “rubber duck drop” had been perfected recently, allowing us to jump our rubber boats with motors from aircraft at night. We were innovators and loving it.
A new task came our way when we were asked to plan a mission to attack the USS Lexington (CV-16) moored pier-side in Pensacola, Florida. She was a World War II-vintage Essex-class aircraft carrier that would serve until her decommissioning in 1991. But for now, she was going to be guarded by the famed, and then-classified, dolphins that had been trained to detect or attack swimmers in the water. No one had ever successfully evaded them.
The bottlenose dolphins were outfitted with devices on their heads that could “kill” a swimmer when they slammed into them.  The training devices were not dangerous, but the idea of a large mammal swimming out of the dark and bumping aggressively into our wet-suited bodies was downright fearsome. We were expected to die as all others had done in the past. We were to be cannon fodder for the training element that ran this special force of water attack mammals.

The SIG Sauer P320 just took another hit, this time from the instructors trusted to keep America’s law enforcement officers safe and proficient with their firearms.
The National Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors Association (NLEFIA) announced today that, effective immediately, all variants of the P320, including its military-issued M17 and M18 models, are banned from use in all NLEFIA training courses. The reason: persistent and unresolved safety concerns, particularly unintentional discharges while holstered.
“This policy has been implemented in response to significant safety concerns, including multiple reported incidents of unintentional discharges involving holstered P320 pistols,” the organization wrote in a July 28 email to all members.
It is important to note that the NLEFIA is not a fringe alarmist group; it is a professional organization dedicated to supporting firearms instructors in law enforcement agencies across the country. Their members are the subject matter experts who shape firearms training policy, safety standards, and tactical curriculum in police departments nationwide. When they ban a weapon system from their courses, it sends a clear signal: something is seriously wrong.

The Pentagon just quietly dropped a major bombshell:
Effective immediately, the Department of Defense has suspended all official participation in think tanks and research events until further notice. 
This seismic order follows last week’s abrupt pull‑out from the Aspen Security Forum. Suddenly, no official podium is safe.
Who’s Grounded
This edict applies universally to all DoD personnel: military officers, civilian employees, senior enlisted leaders—by decree, none may sign up, show up, or speak up at research forums or policy cabals without the express, vetted approval of Public Affairs, General Counsel, and Policy offices. Even long-standing events like Halifax, the Reagan National Defense Forum, Sea Air Space, and Modern Day Marine are now under the veto hammer.

Requirements for the Modular Attack Surface Craft (MASC) USV program were announced by the U.S. Navy’s Unmanned Maritime Systems Program Office (PMS 406) this week. The program is looking to deliver up to three different USVs for wide scale operational use in the U.S. Navy as a culmination of the U.S. Navy’s extensive prototype and development of Medium and Large USVs.

The U.S Navy is seeking a wide range of new medium and large USVs as part of its Modular Attack Surface Craft (MASC) program, an effort started as the end result of NAVSEA’s Future Unmanned Surface Vessel request for information (RFI) which sought an open ocean high endurance, non-exquisite, autonomous vessel that could be delivered to the fleet to rapidly expand the surface fleet’s capacity and capability.

PMS 206 and NAVSEA want first deliveries within 18 months from a prototype award, with an emphasis on readiness, remote operation, open architecture, and interoperability with existing U.S. Navy surface forces. An additional emphasis is placed on non-exquisite platforms to allow multiple shipyards to repair and maintain the MASC USVs.

“The Department intends to swiftly prototype and demonstrate one or more MASC USVs capable of embarking containerized payloads. This prototype will seamlessly maneuver with other Navy surface vessels or operate independently. The objective is for a non-exquisite vessel design that maximize use of commercial standards to allow construction and repair at multiple shipyards.”U.S. Navy Documents

The program will advance in three phases; the first phase will allow companies to pitch solutions and prove viability with an attached schedule to construct a prototype, the second phase marks the beginning of production site pitches to U.S. Navy representatives, and the third phase marks Request for Prototype Proposal (RPP) awards to selected companies.

The MASC program looks to deliver three distinct USV types to the U.S. Navy, all making heavy use of containerized payloads. The smallest platform aims to carry a single 20-foot CONEX boxes, with the largest shooting for four or more 40-foot containers like the Mark 70 Payload Delivery System. Mark 70 PDS have already been deployed on USVs as part of other fleet experimentation trials.

A Standard SM-6 missile rises from the raised four-cell VLS launcher inside a shipping container aboard the USV Ranger. The U.S. Navy has just demonstrated that the optionally-manned LUSV can be armed with payload modules loaded onto the LUSV’s deck. (US DoD picture)

“Each proposed vessel solution enables the Navy to meet a different operational need. Solutions should be sufficiently mature. The Navy desires vessel solutions that will address up to three (3) operational needs with each vessel providing a non-exquisite solution.”U.S. Navy Documents

Vessel one is the baseline Modular Attack Surface Craft (MASC) which the U.S. Navy says addresses “the need for a fast, high capacity, embarked payloads platform”. MASC will carry two 40-foot ISO containers that consume 75kW of power each. The baseline range with a payload of 25 metric tons is set at 2,500 nautical miles, all while maintaining 25 knots up to Sea State 4.

The U.S. Navy’s Ghost Fleet Overlord program tested 40-foot ISO containers on USV Ranger. The unmanned ship fired an SM-6 missile from a containerized VLS system now known as the Mark 70 Payload Delivery System (PDS). A similar test was conducted on a commercial ship last year in a ballistic missile defense (BMD) test. Both efforts likely supported the U.S. Navy’s efforts towards the MASC program.

A RIM-161 SM-3 Block IA anti-ballistic missile launches out of a Mark 70 Payload Delivery System (PDS) during Pacific Dragon 24. Pacific Dragon, hosted by U.S. 3rd Fleet, is a biennial exercise designed to improve participating forces’ ability to work together to track and intercept ballistic missiles. Screen capture form U.S. Navy Video.

Vessel two is a High-Capacity MASC with double the payload of the baseline variant. It will carry four 40-foot ISO containers each drawing 45kW of power while maintaining a “high endurance, high capacity” capability. A configuration of four such containers would allow a High-Capacity MASC to carry four reloadable Mark 70 launchers for sixteen single-packed missiles like Tomahawks or Standard missiles, or sixty-four quad-packed missiles like the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM).

Vessel three is a single-payload USV, dubbed the Single Payload MASC, embarking a single 20-foot ISO container drawing 75kW of power. The documents explicitly state that the container should have no obstructions at the rear, likely for a towed array ASW capability or similar anti-submarine system like the Liberator concept, which Naval News recently covered. Liberator aims to pair heavyweight torpedo launchers to unmanned ships.

The [twenty-foot equivalent unit] payload should have no obstructions aft of the payload to the [the stern of the ship].”U.S. Navy Documents

Identified critical attributes in the documents released by the U.S. Navy include company experience and design maturity to deliver a completed USV within 18 months from award, interoperability with existing U.S. Navy systems, autonomous maneuvering with and without RF emissions, unobstructed payloads from all directions but the bow, and open architecture software.

Additional attributes include USVs built to commercial construction standards , automatic RF control with respect to EMCON mission requirements, interior space for additional hardware and up to 8 personnel, autonomous operation and high speeds at Sea State 4-5, software that allows for multiple USVs controlled simultaneously, and compliance with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to enable foreign military sales.

Many of the aforementioned attributes are design requirements for other USV programs and prototyping efforts. The U.S. Navy has been working towards a MASC-like program for several years across its various risk reduction and prototype programs. MASC draws from those programs to develop a working number of USVs for the fleet.

“[MASC] leverages years of investment and full scale demonstration efforts in autonomy, endurance, command and control, payloads, and testing from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Anti-Submarine Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV), Office of Naval Research (ONR) Medium Displacement Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MDUSV)/Sea Hunter (FY 2017 to FY 2021), and Office of the Secretary of Defense Strategic Capabilities Office (OSD SCO) Ghost Fleet Overlord Large USV experimentation effort (FY 2018 to FY 2021).”U.S. Navy

NAVSEA and PMS 406 are looking for mature solutions for all three MASC variants, with preference given to companies have experience in developing and fielding unmanned surface vehicles and related software for control and maneuver.

On the fleet side, the U.S. Navy stood up Chimera Detachment Charlie, part of Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadron (USVRON) One and Surface Development Group (SURFDEVGRU) One, on June 27 in a ceremony at Naval Base Ventura County. Command of the unit was assumed by LT Allen Yancoskie, U.S. Navy.

Detachment Charlie’s sister units Alpha and Bravo operate the Medium USVs Sea Hawk and Sea Hunter, Ghost Fleet Overlord-developed USVs Mariner and Ranger, and the No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) Defiant.

Chimera Detachment Charlie will ultimately operate the Modular Attack Surface Craft family of USVs.

“The mission of Chimera Det CHARLIE is to build a digital infrastructure that integrates and adopts unmanned capabilities at speed and scale while creating a capability-centric approach for unmanned contributions to the force. Commanding Officers of Chimera Dets are Surface Warfare Officers selected for Early Command. Chimera Dets embark designated Afloat Control Units (ACUs) and operate Modular Attack Surface Craft (MASC) Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs).”Information Systems Technician First Class, Information Warfare, Benjamin Adkins, U.S. Navy

NAVAL BASE VENTURA COUNTY (JUNE. 13, 2025) – (Left to Right) LT Miles Graham, Commanding Officer Chimera Det ALPHA, CDR Sophia Haberman, Commanding Officer Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadron (USVRON) ONE, LT Allen Yancoskie, Commanding Officer Chimera Det CHARLIE, and LCDR Christopher Rodman, Commanding Officer Chimera Det BRAVO celebrate the assumption of command and the establishment of Chimera Det CHARLIE. (U.S. Navy photo by IT1 (IW) Benjamin Adkins)

The MASC program represents the greatest shift towards an unmanned fleet the U.S. Navy has seen in several years and will likely grow in scale and scope as further requirements are refined with prospective manufacturers. MASC is ultimately a culmination of years of investment and development into technology surrounding unmanned surface vessels and represents the pinnacle of MUSV and LUSV research and development across DARPA and the U.S. Navy.

A joint team from HII, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), and U.S. Navy’s Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport (NUWCDIVNPT) recently completed a major milestone in advancing the U.S. Navy Submarine Force’s initiative to launch and recover autonomous undersea vehicles from submarine torpedo tubes.

HII press release

A test by the joint team confirmed the compatibility of the REMUS 620 with the SAFECAP, Virginia-class submarine weapons handling and torpedo tube systems, and other critical interfaces.

“This clears the way for continued testing in advance of an in-water end-to-end launch and recovery at a U.S. Navy test fixture facility later this summer,” said Adrian Gonsalves, HII’s REMUS 620 product lead.

Rick Thornton, NUWCDIVNPT Code 459, stated, “Our team appreciated the early coordination with HII and WHOI. The REMUS 620 team arrived ready to go, and all events were executed safely and efficiently with good information exchange throughout. Much appreciate the full test team for its efforts.”

HII’s next-generation medium uncrewed underwater vehicle (MUUV) fitted with WHOI’s Yellow Moray docking technology, successfully completed a full end-to-end dry checkout of the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle/Shock and Fire Enclosure Capsule (AUV/SAFECAP) “All-Up Round” (AUR) in the Virginia-class Cradle Payload Integration Facility (VCCPIF) and its Mk71 torpedo tube. This follows USS Delaware (SSN 791), built by HII, successfully completing the first-ever forward-deployed launch and recovery of a UUV via submarine torpedo tube with the Yellow Moray equipped REMUS 600 UUV. 

– End –

HII is expanding the U.S. Navy’s undersea dominance and range with state-of-the-art REMUS technology and delivery.

About the REMUS UUV

The REMUS UUV family delivers critical advantages across modern naval operations and the autonomous systems have been proven to operate independently or in conjunction with crewed platforms — such as Virginia-class nuclear submarines — to extend mission range, reduce detection risk, and limit personnel exposure.

The REMUS open-architecture design allows rapid payload integration, enabling mission-specific configurations and future tech insertions — key factors in maintaining operational relevance and cost efficiency over time.

To date, HII has sold more than 700 REMUS vehicles to over 30 countries, including 14 NATO members. Notably, over 90% of REMUS units delivered in the past 23 years remain in service, demonstrating platform durability and lifecycle value — both critical in defense acquisition decision-making.