According to information published by the US DoD on May 16, 2023, forces from U.S. 5th Fleet completed a four-day exercise with Israel in the Gulf of Aqaba that focused on unmanned systems and artificial intelligence integration into maritime operations.
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MANTAS Devil Ray T-38 USV and Saildrone Explorer. (Picture source: US DoD)
The exercise, called Digital Shield, included members of U.S. 5th Fleet's unmanned systems and artificial intelligence task force, Task Force 59, as well as a MANTAS Devil Ray T-38 unmanned surface vessel. U.S. forces trained alongside Israeli counterparts during maritime awareness and vessel boarding drills.
NAVCENT established Task Force 59 in September 2021 to integrate new unmanned systems and artificial intelligence into U.S. naval operations across the Middle East. Since its launch, the task force has operated a suite of new unmanned systems from regional hubs in Bahrain and Aqaba, Jordan.
Task Force 59 also conducted a Digital Shield exercise last September with Israeli naval forces. The task force regularly trains and operates with maritime partners in the Middle East to accelerate the integration of cutting-edge unmanned technology into daily operations.
About the MANTAS Devil Ray T-38
The T-38 is an Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) developed by MARTAC. It belongs to the MANTAS Medium Category Vessels launched in July 2020, along with the T24 and T50 variants.
These USVs are designed for larger-scale operations and can integrate with UAVs, UUVs, and ROVs. The T-38 USV can cruise at 25 knots, has a burst speed of 80 knots, weighs 2,950 kg, and has a draft of 18 inches. With a payload capacity of up to 2,050 kg, the T-38 is suitable for logistical tasks in amphibious operations.
