The Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) officially established the Robotic and Autonomous Systems Warfighting Development Center (RASWDC) on September 24, at the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story.

RASWDC is an Echelon 3 development center operating under US Fleet Forces Command and will be the Navy’s dedicated and “Fleet-facing” point for operational integration for robotic and autonomous capabilities.

The establishment of RASWDC will ensure maturation of Fleet-ready approaches to employment, operations, training and deployment of RAS systems and capabilities. It follows the creation of the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Robotic and Autonomous Systems (DRPM RAS) which constitutes a single accountable portfolio authority looking after requirements implementation, budgeting, technical standards, acquisition and fielding of RAS equipment. RASWDC focuses entirely on working out the directions for operational employment.

Together, the new organizations are intended to create a rapid, direct feedback loop between the operational force and the acquisition enterprise. The aim is to accelerate testing, learning, iteration, and finally the fielding of robotic and autonomous capabilities.

RASWDC will carry on operational testing and develop specialized doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), as well as the advanced tactical instructions.

The Chief of Naval Operations designated Rear Admiral Melvin Smith as the inaugural Commander of RASWDC. His task now is to progressively consolidate the Navy’s autonomous efforts across air, surface and undersea domains.

Follow us on Telegram, Facebook and X.