The US Navy already has medium-sized unmanned surface vessels but this new programme has represented the first step towards a potential large capability.
The troubling revelations about the Independence-class littoral combat ships come as the Navy continues to grapple with a class-wide transmission issue in the Freedom-class variants.
Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) has received complimentary reviews of a recently installed 3D printer on the Virginia-class attack submarine USS New Hampshire (SSN 778). The printer is a Markforged X7 Field Edition, a composite AM system.