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U.S. Navy Sailors and civilian government workers prepare, launch and control unmanned aerial systems and surface vehicles during the annual Fleet Experimentation (FLEX) 2026 event in Key West, Fla., April 27, 2026. Hosted by U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet April 24-30, the exercise integrates commercially developed unmanned systems and artificial intelligence with traditional manned naval platforms. FLEX 2026 features comprehensive collaboration across the Department of War and industry to demonstrate a sophisticated kill chain that successfully found, tracked and engaged captured drug boats. The campaign focuses on operationalizing advanced robotic and autonomous systems to combat transnational organized crime and patrol vast maritime regions. (U.S. Navy video by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jasmin L. Aquino and Chief Mass Communication Specialist Carlos M. Vazquez II)
Platforms (in order of appearance):
- Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS 13)
- Aerosonde unmanned aerial system (UAS)
- Tsunami unmanned surface vehicle (USV)
- Beechcraft Super King aircraft
- Vanilla unmanned aerial system (UAS)
- The Trials and Research Vessel NAWC 38
- Orca unmanned aerial system (UAS)
| Date Taken: | 04.30.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2026 10:16 |
| Category: | B-Roll |
| Video ID: | 1004651 |
| VIRIN: | 260430-N-WD757-2001 |
| Filename: | DOD_111667149 |
| Length: | 00:05:09 |
| Location: | KEY WEST, FLORIDA, US |
| Downloads: | 4 |
| High-Res. Downloads: | 4 |
This work, FLEX 2026 in Key West, Florida, by CPO Carlos Vazquez II and PO3 Jasmin Aquino, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
