U.S. Navy Demonstrates Drone Swarm Mission Planning Tech

The U.S. Navy has demonstrated new software technology designed to improve how drone swarms are planned and deployed across maritime missions.

At its Patuxent River, Maryland headquarters, the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) tested the Optimized Cross Domain Swarm Sensing (OCDSS) software. The program enables the Navy to design and optimize complex missions using combinations of unmanned aircraft, surface vessels, and underwater systems.

“OCDSS quickly runs thousands of simulations to predict how different unmanned systems might perform together,” said Raymond Koehler, NAWCAD mechanical engineer and the software’s lead developer. “This software gives warfighters faster and more effective decision making – that’s competitive advantage.”

The software uses high-speed simulation models to find the best mix of drones, sensors, and formations to meet mission goals. It also reduces the need for costly real-world testing—cutting time and expense from defense development programs. According to industry standards, simulation drives up to 90% of modern system development.

The OCDSS software was tested during the Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX) Coastal Trident in August 2024, where it supported port security operations and generated valuable data for further development.

OCDSS is designed to help the Navy and Marine Corps get the most out of their growing fleet of unmanned systems by improving mission planning and operational outcomes. The software’s ability to optimize drone deployment enhances mission efficiency and reduces risk.