Task Group 21.11

Task Group 21.11
Unit name	Task Group 21.11
Dates	c. 2020 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Command structure	United States Fleet Forces Command
Role	Advanced Unmanned Systems Integration and Maritime Domain Awareness

Task Group 21.11 is a specialized United States Navy unit established to pioneer the operational integration of advanced unmanned systems within Fleet Forces Command. Formed as part of a broader initiative to accelerate unmanned maritime capabilities, the group focuses on developing tactics, techniques, and procedures for a new generation of autonomous platforms. Its work is central to the Department of Defense's efforts to maintain technological overmatch in contested environments, particularly within the Indo-Pacific region. The group's experiments and exercises have provided critical data shaping the future of distributed naval warfare.

History and formation

Task Group 21.11 was established around 2020 under the authority of United States Fleet Forces Command, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia. Its creation was a direct response to strategic guidance from the Office of the Secretary of Defense and initiatives like the Navy's Project Overmatch, which aims to enhance networked warfare. The formation was influenced by earlier experimental units and the success of exercises such as the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) multinational drills. The group's designation follows the Navy's standard numbering system for operational task forces, placing it within the U.S. Second Fleet's area of responsibility for development and testing.

Mission and objectives

The primary mission is to rapidly develop and validate concepts of operation for hybrid fleets comprising manned and unmanned systems. Key objectives include enhancing maritime domain awareness through persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and refining anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities using autonomous platforms. The group aims to prove the utility of unmanned systems in executing core naval functions as outlined in the Naval Operations Concept. A critical goal is to inform the acquisition and deployment strategies for programs like the Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicle and the Snakehead Large Displacement Unmanned Underwater Vehicle.

Organization and composition

Task Group 21.11 is a cadre organization led by a Navy Captain and includes a hybrid team of active-duty personnel, Naval Reservists, and civilian engineers from organizations like the Naval Sea Systems Command. The group operates under the administrative and operational control of Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic. Its composition is fluid, often task-organizing with assets from other commands, including the Military Sealift Command (MSC) and Naval Information Warfare Systems Command. The group collaborates extensively with research entities such as the Office of Naval Research and private defense contractors including Leidos, L3Harris, and General Dynamics.

Operational activities

The group's activities are centered on a series of advanced naval exercises and technology demonstrations. It has played a pivotal role in the Unmanned Integrated Battle Problem series and the Large Scale Exercise events, which test Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) concepts. Operations frequently occur in the Atlantic Ocean, particularly off the coast of Virginia and within the Jacksonville Operating Area. These exercises involve deploying prototypes like the Sea Hunter USV and integrating their sensor data with networks aboard Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and P-8A Poseidon aircraft to create a common operational picture.

Equipment and technology

Task Group 21.11 experiments with a diverse array of cutting-edge platforms. These include medium and large unmanned surface vessels such as the Sea Hunter and the Ranger, as well as unmanned underwater vehicles like the Razorback UUV. Core technologies under evaluation involve advanced synthetic aperture radars, multi-static sonar arrays, and AI-driven data fusion systems. The group tests modular payload systems and secure, resilient communications links critical for operating in electronic warfare environments. These technologies are often sourced from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and developed through the Rapid Capabilities Office.

Significance and impact

The work of Task Group 21.11 is considered foundational to the U.S. Navy's future force structure, directly informing the Chief of Naval Operations' Navigation Plan and the Marine Corps' Force Design 2030. Its experiments have provided validated data that accelerates the procurement and fielding of unmanned systems, influencing programs of record across the Department of Defense. The group's findings on human-machine teaming and distributed lethality are studied by allied navies, including the Royal Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, contributing to broader NATO interoperability and deterrence strategies in regions like the South China Sea and the Baltic Sea.

Category:United States Navy