Australia could scrap plans to develop a fleet of large “drone ships” with the United States and instead seek to partner with Britain on the navy’s first foray into cutting-edge autonomous surface vessels, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
The government announced two years ago, following a review into the nation’s surface fleet, that the navy would acquire six large optionally crewed surface vessels “through formal engagement with the United States Navy program as a fast follower”.
But, as this masthead reported this week, the US Navy has killed off its plan to develop large vessels of this kind, throwing Australia’s plan into doubt.
The full article is here.
