The US Navy is planning to invest $6bn in unmanned platforms as part of the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP), reports Janes.com.

Of the five-year budget projection, $4bn will be spent on unmanned aerial vehicles and $1bn for both unmanned surface platforms and unmanned underwater vehicles, according to Deputy Chief of Staff of Naval Operations for Integration of Capabilities and Resources Vice-Admiral Barry McCullough III, speaking at the Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) conference in Washington DC .

The programme is a part of unmanned systems vision through to 2030 to imbed aerial drones in day-to-day maritime operations, the navy official added.

The navy is also interested in developing fully autonomous systems, which can operate in shallow waters and challenging environments such as the Antarctic.