U.S. NAVY to launch Inaugural Unmanned Battle Problem 21 April 19

Submitted by tatwood on Sun, 04/18/2021 - 15:00

SAN DIEGO – The Navy begins its inaugural multi-domain manned and unmanned capabilities exercise April 19. As reported at Miragenews.com and the NAVY press office, the exercise will feature unmanned capabilities “Above the Sea, On the Sea and Below the Sea.”  U.S. Pacific Fleet’s UxS IBP 21, April 19-26, integrates manned and unmanned capabilities into the most challenging operational scenarios to generate war fighting advantages.  Led by U.S. Pacific Fleet and executed by U.S. 3rd Fleet, Unmanned Integrated Battle Problem 21 will generate warfighting advantages by integrating multi-domain manned and unmanned capabilities into the most challenging operational scenarios.

The exercise will feature operational, unmanned systems such as the MQ-9 Sea Guardian Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, the Medium Displacement Unmanned Surface Vessels Sea Hunter and Sea Hawk, and small and medium Unmanned Undersea Vehicles with modular payloads.  For more information on UxS IBP 21, please visit https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/IBP21. The photos show, in descending order:


1. (April 15, 2021) Vice Adm. Michael Moran, principal military deputy assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition), speaks with representatives from General Atomics Aeronautical about the MQ-9 Sea Guardian unmanned aircraft at Pier 12 on Naval Base San Diego.

2. (April 16, 2021) Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas W. Harker discusses unmanned vessels at Pier 12 on Naval Base San Diego during Unmanned Integrated Battle Problem 21 (UxS IBP 21) Distinguished Visitor Day, April 16. U.S. Pacific Fleet’s UxS IBP 21, April 19-26, integrates manned and unmanned capabilities into the most challenging operational scenarios to generate warfighting advantages. (U.S. Navy video by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Matthew F. Jackson)

3. (April 16, 2021) U.S. Navy leaders observe a demonstration in the combat information center aboard Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) on Naval Base San Diego, April 16 during the Unmanned Integrated Battle Problem 21 (UxS IBP 21) Distinguished Visitor Day. U.S. Pacific Fleet’s UxS IBP 21, April 19-26, integrates manned and unmanned capabilities into the most challenging operational scenarios to generate war fighting advantages. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jessica Paulauskas)

4. (April 17, 2021) Navy Petty Officer 3 rd Class Casey Trietsch receives a tour and demonstration from Bruce Hanson aboard the MANTAS T38 Devil Ray unmanned surface vehicle April 17. U.S. Pacific Fleet’s UxS IBP 21, April 19-26, integrates manned and unmanned capabilities into the most challenging operational scenarios to generate warfighting advantages. (U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Mike Jones)

5. (April 16, 2021) Chief of Naval Research, Rear Adm. Lorin Selby, observes a Vanilla Ultra Endurance unmanned aerial vehicle on Pier 12 during Integrated Battle Problem 21 (UxS IBP 21) Distinguished Visitors Day at Naval Base San Diego, April 16. U.S. Pacific Fleet’s UxS IBP 21, April 19-26, integrates manned and unmanned capabilities into the most challenging operational scenarios to generate war fighting advantages. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Natalie M. Byers)

6. (April 17, 2021) Navy Petty Officer 3 rd Class Casey Trietsch receives a tour and demonstration from Bruce Hanson aboard the MANTAS T38 Devil Ray unmanned surface vehicle April 17. U.S. Pacific Fleet’s UxS IBP 21, April 19-26, integrates manned and unmanned capabilities into the most challenging operational scenarios to generate warfighting advantages. (U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Mike Jones)

7. (April 17, 2021) Chris Valdez conducts pre-underway systems checks aboard the MANTAS T38 Devil Ray unmanned surface vehicle during an operations demonstration April 17. U.S. Pacific Fleet’s UxS IBP 21, April 19-26, integrates manned and unmanned capabilities into the most challenging operational scenarios to generate warfighting advantages. (U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Mike Jones)

8. (April 17, 2021) B-roll clip of MANTAS T38 Devil Ray unmanned surface vehicle during a demonstration April 17.
U.S. Pacific Fleet’s UxS IBP 21, April 19-26, integrates manned and unmanned capabilities into the most challenging operational scenarios to generate warfighting advantages. (U.S. Navy video by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Mike Jones). Watch the video here.


Thanks to CDR David Place (USN/Ret), davidplace47[at]gmail[dot]com, and Robin E. Alexander, President ATC, alexander technical[at]gmail[dot]com, for their assistance with this report, which is a pre-release update to their next edition of the UNMANNED SYSTEMS NEWS (USN).

David distributes the USN, a free, comprehensive newsletter in PDF format every week or two, as well as serial news flashes, from which this NREF news update was sourced. To be included in his distribution, simply send David a subscribe request to davidplace47[at]gmail[dot]com.