Navy Demonstrates 1st Launch of Spike Missiles from Unmanned Surface Vehiclefrom : NAVSEA Office of Corporate CommunicationsNAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. - The Chief of Naval Operation's Expeditionary Warfare Division and the Naval Sea Systems Command's Naval Special Warfare Program Office successfully launched six Rafael Spike missiles from an unmanned surface vessel precision engagement module (USV PEM) on Oct. 24th, the first time the Navy has shot a Spike missile from an unmanned surface vessel.
Though the U.S. military has had the capacity for several years to target and engage enemy forces remotely using missiles from unmanned airborne vehicles comparable technological progression has not been achieved for unmanned surface going vessels. The USV PEM, a remotely operated eleven meter boat armed with missiles and a .50 caliber machine gun, represents the first significant step forward in surface unmanned combat capability.
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