The world’s oceans are no longer the safe domain of large warships. In Ukraine, we are seeing how drones and small unmanned vessels are rapidly reshaping the balance of power at sea. For the first time in decades, frigates and cruisers are vulnerable to cheap, agile threats capable of striking from hundreds of kilometers away. The old rules of naval warfare no longer apply — and major defense companies such as Northrop Grumman and Leonardo are racing to develop solutions to protect warships in this new reality. Laser weapons are being developed in the United States, Israel, and Australia, but most are still in testing. Smart gun systems will remain essential.
In many ways, the war in Ukraine has become a laboratory for modern naval warfare. Small explosive-laden drone boats have already disabled or destroyed multiple Russian naval vessels — a painful lesson now being studied worldwide. The message is clear: large ships are no longer untouchable.
To restore the balance, countries such as the United States and Italy are investing in technologies that combine speed, precision, and automation. Leonardo’s DART (Driven Ammunition Reduced Time of flight) projectile is one of the most advanced responses to this new threat. Unlike conventional ammunition, which follows a fixed trajectory, DART can be guided mid-flight via a radar link. Once fired, it remains connected to the fire-control radar, which continuously sends course corrections. This allows it to hit even fast-moving targets such as drones or incoming missiles with extreme accuracy.
The DART system uses aerodynamic control fins and can reach speeds of up to Mach 3.5. This means an incoming threat can be neutralized within seconds, before it reaches the ship. The ammunition is designed for Leonardo’s widely used 76 mm Super Rapid naval gun, already deployed on dozens of warships worldwide. This compatibility allows existing vessels to be upgraded relatively easily without requiring entirely new weapon systems — making DART both technologically advanced and cost-effective for NATO countries, including the Netherlands.
(Video by Northrop Grumman)
Innovation is also accelerating in the United States. Northrop Grumman is developing integrated defense systems that combine radar, optical sensors, and artificial intelligence to automatically detect and neutralize drones. The company is focusing in part on Directed Energy Weapons (DEW), or laser systems that can respond to threats at the speed of light. These systems can operate without traditional ammunition, making them ideal for countering large drone swarms. In parallel, modular defense packages are being developed that can be installed on existing ships — similar to Leonardo’s approach.
According to maritime analysts, the shift toward autonomous defense is inevitable. Where human operators once had to identify and engage each target, modern systems can now make decisions within milliseconds using AI-driven algorithms. That speed is critical, because future naval battles are unlikely to involve a single incoming missile, but rather dozens or even hundreds of drones attacking simultaneously.
What is unfolding at sea goes far beyond the war in Ukraine. It represents a global technological arms race between major powers preparing their fleets for the next generation of warfare. The clash between traditional naval doctrine and new smart weapon systems will determine who controls the seas — the United States, Europe, or perhaps emerging players currently seen as underdogs. One thing is certain: whoever learns to defeat drone swarms first will shape the future of naval power.
About the Author
