The Naval Brief: Unmanned exercise; Finding cancer links; Underwater robotics; and more...

Welcome to The Naval Brief, a weekly look at the news and ideas shaping the sea services’ future. 

Middle East exercise tests unmanned systems. A massive exercise is testing out 80 unmanned systems to see how they can improve maritime awareness over a large area, Defense One reports. Artificial intelligence is also being used to help detect, analyze, and share the immense amounts of data generated by these systems. 

Finding cancer links in pilot DNA. A future study is hoping to find a marker in the cells and DNA of military pilots left behind by toxic exposures that could help scientists discover what is causing the pilots to develop prostate cancer, Defense One reports. The marker, DNA methylation, is usually found before a mutation that leads to cancer.

Diving into underwater robotics. The software company Anduril’s recent purchase of Dive Technologies will allow them to enter the underwater drone arena, Defense One reports. Anduril’s technology can allow remote submarines to operate without as much human involvement as U.S. military drone aircraft require.

Sign up to get The Naval Brief every Thursday from Caitlin M. Kenney, Defense One’s military services reporter. On Feb. 5, 1971, astronauts and naval aviators Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell walked on the moon as part of the Apollo 14 mission.

From Defense One

BREAKING: ISIS Leader Dead After US Raid in Syria, Biden Says // Jacqueline Feldscher

A U.S. helicopter malfunctioned and was intentionally destroyed during the mission, officials say.

US, Russia Spar Over Ukraine At Confrontational U.N. Meeting // Jacqueline Feldscher

Russian official claims the U.S. is trying to "drive a wedge" between Moscow and Kyiv with "unfounded accusations."

'Stand Down,' Milley Warns Russia // Tara Copp

Joint Chiefs chairman issues warning as Defense Secretary Austin says, "Conflict is not inevitable."