US Navy's Unmanned 'Ghost Fleet' Ships Visit Pacific and Japan to Counter China

US Navy drone boats, part of the Ghost Fleet Overlord project, made a historic visit to a key US ally in the Western Pacific as part of the Pentagon's efforts to counter China's military mass. The two unmanned surface vessels (USVs), Ranger and Mariner, arrived in Japan during Integrated Battle Problem (IBP) 23.2, a testing and evaluation event for drone boats. The US Navy is exploring the integration of large drone boats into its fleet to enhance situational awareness and lethality. The visit comes as the Pentagon plans to field thousands of autonomous systems, including drones, to overcome China's advantage in mass military capabilities.