United States has found how to protect its most vulnerable ships at sea: with escort drones

The United States Department of Defense's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is spearheading a novel approach to maritime security, focusing on the deployment of autonomous drone escorts for vulnerable shipping vessels. This initiative directly addresses the escalating threats faced by commercial shipping in critical global waterways, aiming to enhance safety and maintain vital supply chains amidst geopolitical instability. The development signifies a significant shift in defensive strategies, leveraging advanced technology to mitigate risks in increasingly volatile maritime environments. The program, which has seen DARPA contract with RTX's Raytheon, is designed to provide a flexible and scalable defense solution. These autonomous drones will offer escort services to ships traversing high-risk areas such as the Black Sea, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Red Sea, regions currently experiencing heightened tensions and piracy. The technology aims to provide continuous, adaptable protection without requiring the extensive deployment of manned naval assets, which are costly and limited in number. This innovation has profound implications for global trade, as approximately 80% of world commerce travels by sea, with crucial chokepoints like the Bab el-Mandeb strait handling significant portions of this traffic. The current disruptions, exemplified by ships rerouting around Africa to avoid the Red Sea, incur substantial delays and increased fuel costs. By providing an autonomous, drone-based escort system, DARPA and its partners seek to restore fluidity to these trade routes and prevent significant economic repercussions.