US Navy Strike Group for First Time Deploys Ship With Drone

A U.S. Navy aircraft carrier strike group, for the first time in the service’s history, deployed with a drone ship.

Speaking at the Association of the United States Army annual meeting and exposition in Washington on Wednesday, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said that the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group deployed from its home port in San Diego with an “unmanned surface vessel.”

“This is the first carrier strike group to ever deploy with a large-size unmanned surface vessel—and this is a force multiplier. Imagine having more guns out there,” he said, according to Business Insider.

The uncrewed vessel was a Leidos Seahawk, a 145-ton, 42m-long vessel, according to a source speaking with the Straits Times.

The source told the publication the ship is designed to operate over extended distances for months.

Significance of Drone Deployments

The deployment marks a shift in Navy strategy.

Drone ships can scout ahead, hunt submarines, track threats and gather intelligence for months without a crew. Other nations, like Ukraine, have used sea drones while the U.S. has previously used naval drones for intelligence-gathering purposes.

This strategy expands the fleet’s operational reach, reduces human risk in high-threat environments, and directly counters escalating maritime challenges from near-peer adversaries in the Pacific and Middle East.

Cao said unmanned vessels are easier to build and don’t require complex systems needed to sustain personnel on board.

During his remarks, Cao also said that the Navy had used unmanned underwater vehicles to demine the Strait of Hormuz, as the war with Iran continues. He said doing so minimized risks to humans.

“In the Strait of Hormuz, we used the Corsair … to recover two Apache helicopter pilots,” Cao said. “Then, we also used the unmanned underwater vehicles to demine that area.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. will also use drones in other areas as part of its defense strategy. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum to create Project Agincourt last month, to create the Autonomous Warfare Command.

He told the 2026 Association of the United States Army annual meeting and exposition on Thursday that the Pentagon was funding “drone dominance” and one-way attack systems.

USS Theodore Roosevelt Deploys to Middle East

The USS Theodore Roosevelt, the United States Navy’s fourth Nimitz-class super carrier, is currently expected to replace another naval carrier, the USS George Washington, in the Middle East.

The ship arrived at Yokosuka naval base on Oct. 16 to conduct routine maintenance, as well as to resupply and prepare for training exercises.

“Our crew is honored to visit Yokosuka and experience the rich culture and hospitality of Japan,” said Capt. Will Mathis, commanding officer of Theodore Roosevelt, in a statement. “Port visits like this are vital for crew morale and mission readiness, allowing our Sailors to rest, recharge, and prepare to operate seamlessly alongside our allies during exercise Keen Sword.”

Rear Adm. Marcos Jasso, commander, CSG-9, added that the time in Yokosuka further emboldened a U.S.-Japan alliance that “serves as the cornerstone of peace and security across the region.”