Pentagon budget 2022: US Navy requests increased unmanned investments
by Michael Fabey
The US Navy (USN) is looking to grow its unmanned portfolio with funding requests for subsea, surface, and aerial systems in the service’s proposed fiscal year (FY) 2022 budget proposal, released on 28 May.
The navy requests about USD268.9 million for the Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) programme, which was recently restructured with near-term focus on the new Unmanned Carrier Aviation n(UCA)/MQ-25 Stingray programme and accelerated fielding timelines.
Boeing and Naval Air Systems Command have been testing the unmanned MQ-25A T1 prototype. (Boeing Phantom Works)