A SINKEX provides useful information on weapons performance. It is not a tactical exercise. Yet the drone fever continues to burn and can only be quenched with more cowbell!
So drones were used to sink an old warship in multinational exercises last fall:
A U.S. warship used aerial and maritime drones to help sink a decommissioned frigate last fall, Fourth Fleet officials have confirmed, adding that the experience is now shaping how the Navy will go into future battles.
An old, stationary American frigate. That wasn't defending itself. Or maneuvering. Or even moving, it seems. Or conducting damage control.
Also, the air and sea drones were employed to "help" sink the ship. Again:
The robot formation executed three kinetic strikes against the Simpson as part of live-fire attacks ...
What else helped as part of the UNITAS 25 live-fire attacks? Oh:
The Simpson was thus a floating “magnet” that missiles, guns, and torpedoes could hit and sink. The first “hits” were made by MH-60R and MH-60S helicopters flying from the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Arlington. There was also an attack helicopter launched from the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116).
So we know drone-carried explosives can help sink ships. Shocking. Welcome to the anti-ship party, pal. Don't fling panties at a new weapon in the belief that they're a silver bullet for all our military problems.
NOTE: TDR Winter War of 2022 coverage continues here.
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NOTE: Image from this article about the exercise. I don't think it is a photo from the UNITAS 25 exercise, however.
