UNMANNED x Portuguese Navy [UNMANNED II]

UNMANNED II: Building the Future of Naval Autonomy

Following the success of our inaugural edition in The Hague, the second TekTalk on unmanned naval technologies was held in Vlissingen at Damen Naval, one of Europe’s premier naval shipyards. The conference brought together technologists, strategists, and defence stakeholders to explore the evolving landscape of maritime autonomy.

Kicking off the event with gravitas and global insight was Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo, Chief of the Portuguese Navy, who joined us live from the multinational REP(MUS) exercise. His address set the tone for an event that sought to blend vision with operational realism, and innovation with strategic necessity.

A Look Backward to Look Forward

As in our first edition, we grounded our conversation in history—examining the Siege of Tyre, the Battle of Red Cliffs, and the Age of Sail. These moments underscored how disruptive technologies and novel doctrines have always shaped naval dominance. From ancient fire ships to World War II's explosive motorboats, the seeds of unmanned innovation are deeply rooted.

State of Affairs: From Concept to Capability

The conference then moved into a global scan of unmanned systems development. The U.S., U.K., Ukraine, China, South Korea, and others continue to field and refine a wide range of platforms—from the Sea Hunter and USS Ranger to Ukraine’s highly effective Magura V5 and Sea Baby systems. These platforms are not just engineering feats, but strategic assets reshaping the maritime balance.

The challenges and advantages of these systems were laid bare: modularity, survivability, autonomy levels, and costs are converging into real-world impact. With Ukraine’s ongoing conflict serving as an urgent proving ground, the lessons are no longer theoretical—they are tactical and immediate.

“Moneyball Military”: A New Doctrine for the Digital Battlespace

A highlight of the conference was the “Moneyball Military” concept—drawn from both sports analytics and defense reform literature. The traditional defense acquisition model, burdened by bureaucracy and high-cost platforms, is giving way to a new mindset: one that values scalable, cost-effective, and rapidly deployable systems.

Citing examples like the U.S. Navy’s shift toward low-cost autonomous assets, and companies like Anduril redefining defense innovation through software and integration-first thinking, the session called for a pragmatic, agile, and data-driven approach to force design.

European Autonomy & Collaboration

In a focused section titled “Europe, At a Glance,” we turned to the continent’s evolving defense landscape. With initiatives like the European Defence Fund (EDF), PESCO, and NATO’s DIANA, Europe is not only adapting but positioning itself to lead in key technology domains. Challenges remain—particularly fragmented procurement and industrial base constraints—but frameworks for collaboration are gaining traction.

The REP(MUS) exercise, which brought together over 2,000 participants from 30 countries, exemplifies this spirit of cooperative experimentation. It served as a powerful case study in multinational coordination, public-private synergy, and live testing of unmanned systems in complex maritime environments.

From Systems to Purpose

The closing segments of the conference emphasized that innovation cannot be purely technical. Human factors, ethical frameworks, and purposeful design are integral to meaningful progress. As we invest in autonomy, we must remain grounded in mission clarity and operational effectiveness.

Discussions ranged from the shrinking defense industrial workforce to the urgent need for new expertise and adaptable shipyards. The future will demand more than technological excellence—it will require vision, humility, and a deep commitment to collaborative progress.

A Final Word from Vlissingen

UNMANNED II was more than a symposium; it was a platform for dialogue, disruption, and design. It challenged assumptions, spotlighted the urgency of modernization, and celebrated the collective will to build smarter, more responsive naval capabilities.

We leave Vlissingen with reinforced purpose: to build not just unmanned platforms, but a new architecture of cooperation, capability, and strategic clarity—fit for the challenges of the 21st century.