A Concept of Operations for Achieving a Navy Fleet of 500 Ships

Summary

Captain George Galdorisi outlines the U.S. Navy’s ambition to field a 500‑ship “hybrid fleet” of 350 crewed vessels and 150 large uncrewed maritime vessels (USVs), emphasizing the need for a concrete concept‑of‑operations (CONOPS) to satisfy congressional requirements. He details ongoing initiatives—such as the Unmanned Task Force, Surface Development Squadron One, and the Unmanned Campaign Framework—that are shaping how USVs will be integrated with manned ships through man‑machine teaming. The episode presents a concrete CONOPS scenario where large uncrewed surface vessels (LUSVs) act as “trucks” to launch smaller USVs for ISR and mine‑countermeasure missions, illustrating timelines and operational flow for an Expeditionary Strike Group in the Western Pacific. Throughout, Galdorisi highlights the strategic drivers—cost savings, force‑size constraints, and the AI‑driven arms race—that make uncrewed platforms essential for future naval warfare.