On April 28, 1944, the United States Navy established the 5th Fleet as a naval stronghold in the Pacific Ocean. It was deactivated two years after WWII ended. On July 1, 1995, the fleet was reinstated to address growing tensions in the Persian Gulf. Headquartered out of Bahrain, the 5th Fleet maintains a presence in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and the Arabian Sea. On May 5, 2021, Vice Admiral Charles Bradford Cooper II became the 16th Commander of the 15th Fleet.

One of the biggest military functions the US Navy performs is to test emerging technologies for combat applicability. In early September 2021, the 5th Fleet announced that they would be initiating a new task force to test drone technologies. Task Force 59 will begin testing aerial, water surface, and submersible drones to address growing Iranian tensions, specifically in the Strait of Hormuz.

“We want to put more systems out in the maritime domain above, on, and below the sea,” said Vice Admiral Cooper. “We want more eyes on what’s happening out there.” Task Force 59 will be continuing trials that the Navy had already been testing in the Pacific Ocean. This will include drones with long endurance capabilities for offensive surveying. These long endurance drones will most likely not be aerial drones, but surface and subsurface vehicles. Not only can these drones remain in the water and collect data for extended periods, but they do so stealthily. Shaped like a torpedo or low profile surfboard with a sail, these drones are hard to spot by enemy systems.

The Navy has also been testing surface and aerial drones in capacities beyond reconnaissance. Just as drones are being used to deliver parcels on land, the Navy is testing to see how they can be used to deliver supplies at sea. This would mean needing both aerial and surface drones that can securely transport heavy cargo. These same drones are being used to test rescue missions. From on board a ship, a drone can be sent to coordinates to rescue a person stranded in the water. In Naval missions, this could be a huge advantage as it can rescue victims without putting officer lives at risk.

Drones are not new to military operations. The dominance of drone technology we see today all stems from their military presence. Military contracts make up the largest percentage of the drone market, contributing millions in research and sales each year. Much of the advancement of drone technology is influenced by the demands of the military.

Vice Admiral Cooper explained that Task Force 59 will be continuing to explore how existing military drones, like the MQ-1 Predator and BAMS-D aerial platforms, can be used in new ways. “What’s going to be different,” he went on to say, “is they will be augmented with unmanned surface vessels. We haven’t had them in the past. We have them now. It will be augmented with even more unmanned undersea vessels. We’ve had some in the past. We’re going to have a lot more in the future.”

Vice Admiral Cooper also explained that the entirety of the 5th Fleet is taking into consideration the escalation of tension in the Persian Gulf region. All Naval operations will be conducted concerning the situation. He also believes that the specific circumstances found in the Persian Gulf at this time make for an ideal testing ground for emerging drone technologies. “I think that environment really suits us well to experiment and move faster,” Vice Admiral Cooper said. “And our belief is if the new systems can work here, they can probably work anywhere else and can scale them across other fleets.”