The Next Revolution in Naval Warfare Is Already Underway

The article argues that the next major shift in naval warfare is already happening away from large crewed warships and toward autonomous surface vessels, hybrid craft, underwater drones, sensors, and distributed communications. It frames these technologies as a response to rising maritime threats and the limits of carrier-centered power. The piece’s core message is that future naval strength will depend less on a few expensive platforms and more on connected, expendable systems operating across the sea and beneath it.