This book explores the emergence of maritime autonomous systems (MAS) within the context of a broader shift in military strategy and technological development.

It argues that MAS are not merely replacements for traditional platforms but rather offer unique capabilities that enable a new approach to warfare, emphasizing distributed, modular combat clusters and a “kill web” concept that emphasizes networked integration and rapid decision-making.

The book analyzes various types of MAS, examines their potential roles in different mission threads, and discusses ongoing exercises and experiments that are shaping the future of maritime warfare. The book further explores the impact of MAS on force structure, logistics, and amphibious operations, with a particular focus on the challenges and opportunities presented by peer competition and the need for a resilient and adaptive defense approach

In this Deep Drive podcast, the argument in the book by Robbin Laird with the assistance of thinking of other analysts, notably the cutting edge work of George Galdorisi is highlighted.