The US Navy is setting up a sweeping reorganization to push robotic and autonomous systems from experimentation into everyday fleet operations. Navy Secretary John Phelan has announced the creation of three new billets and offices that will oversee the service’s growing portfolio of drones and uncrewed platforms.

The move, outlined in a September 3 memorandum obtained and reported by Breaking Defense Thursday, signals a stronger institutional commitment to unmanned systems and a desire to streamline how the Navy manages its development and acquisition.

A New Structure for Unmanned Systems

The memorandum directs the establishment of a deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for robotics and autonomous systems (RAS), a program executive office for RAS, and a portfolio acquisition ex

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