A kind man noticed a dog shivering from the cold and acted very quickly
Navy destroyer is first warship with AI onboard and will help military react in instant if ‘all-out war’ breaks out
A US Navy destroyer has become the world’s first AI warship after being equipped with a program that will boost the Navy’s readiness for all-out war.
USS Fitzgerald, first launched January 1994, has been redeployed with an innovative artificial intelligence program used by the Pentagon.
![USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) at a port visit in Aomori, Japan.](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/2013-port-fitzgerald-sailors-take-968351223.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
![USS Fitzgerald firing a naval strike missile.](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/ddg-62-fires-naval-strike-968351224.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
![USS Fitzgerald in Qingdao harbor.](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/2009-attend-international-fleet-review-968351229.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The software uses machine learning to predict maintenance issues before they have even happened, allowing crews to avoid major malfunctions and stay on the water.
It takes 10,000 sensor readings every second from all over the ship – including the hull and the mechanical and electrical systems.
The AI algorithm then interprets the data to make maintenance recommendations to the crew.
This preventative approach should help avoid ships getting bogged down by delays that see them sit uselessly in shipyards waiting to be fixed.
Crucially, the program could therefore ensure more of the fleet is available to respond at any time if all-out war erupts and a “surge” of forces is required.
The groundbreaking program, called Enterprise Remote Monitoring Version 4 (ERM v4), was designed by an Austin-based company called Fathom5, founded by Zac Staples, a retired Navy officer.
ERM v4 has already caught a ship part that was about to fail and would have taken a long time to replace, according to Staples.
This allowed the crew to order a new part in time to keep the vessel operational the entire time.
Staples said that, without the foresight of the software, the part failure “probably would have put a particular system out of commission for a bit”.
Staples presented the new software to the annual WEST conference in San Diego this week.
He told The War Zone: “Right now, you’ve got about a third of the Navy that is deployed, a third of the Navy that’s in some depot-level maintenance – very difficult for them to get put back together in surge – but that other third is in various stages of material and training readiness to deploy.”
He continued: “Anything, particularly AI, that tells us exactly what we need to do to keep a ship ready before its readiness dips directly contributes to having a much larger battle fleet ready to defend the interests of the nation.”
The AI innovation has arrived during a crisis of delays blighting the Navy.
Rep Ken Calvert, chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, said last year: “I’m concerned that the Navy is falling behind — it is behind.”
He said a large part of the problem was yearslong delays in deploying ships driven by mounting maintenance issues.
Calvert said: “The Department of the Navy’s capability and capacity is further eroded by the maintenance delays that plague the fleet.
“The committee continues to see the Navy spend every cent appropriated for ship maintenance, but complete fewer maintenance availabilities than forecasted.”
ERM v4 will replace the current outdated program called thje Integrated Condition Assessment System (ICAS) which has been in place since the 1990s.
The sea service is experimenting with AI in various forms, but this is the first time a ship has been deployed with a “program-of-record” aboard.
![USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) underway refueling.](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/000-gallons-fuel-pallets-cargo-968351227.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Mum-of-22 Sue Radford debuts new dark hair and takes fans on mega Primark shop for new shirts, jumpers and jackets
BRITISH mum-of-22 Sue Radford took fans along with her on a mega Primark haul, where she nabbed stunning shirts, jumpers and jackets.
The glam mum took along daughters Aimee, 18, and Tillie, 14, as she debuted her new dark locks – documenting their trip for their YouTube account’s 374,000 subscribers.
![A woman and two teenage girls stand outside a shop.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Its_Time_To_Shop_The_Radford_Family_12-13_screenshot__3_png-JS968353565.jpg?strip=all&w=854)
![A woman and a man sitting at a table, talking.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/msemail_FAB2024-08-26-20h07m11s298jpg-JS927788616.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Having gone “very blonde” for daughter Millie’s wedding in September, Sue said her new colour has “taken a bit of getting used to”.
But it’s clear to everybody that Sue looks gorgeous as a brunette, as daughter Aimee asked the camera sweetly: “How lovely does my mother look?”
And Sue admitted she feels like the new darker style suits her complexion and eyes more.
The trio headed towards their local branch of Primark, in Lancaster, to do some serious retail therapy.
Arriving in ‘Primarni’, Sue immediately spots a smart blue and white pinstripe blouse, which costs just £16, daughter Aimee described it as “good quality” and pointed out a similar shirt nearby.
The family love the spring colour palette currently on sale in Primark, which is filled with pastel blues and yellows.
Aimee picks up an £11 yellow long sleeve cardigan that’s perfectly on trend for the upcoming fresh spring weather.
Meanwhile Sue puts a stunning 2-in-1 blue blouse and white sweater vest into her basket, for just £17.
The fashion-forward mum then spots a gorgeous, soft white jumper with a Milano 1975 slogan on it.
The cosy crewneck is a real steal at just £15.
![Cream-colored sweater and jacket on display in a store.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Its_Time_To_Shop_The_Radford_Family_14-42_screenshotpng-JS968353473.jpg?strip=all&w=854)
![Woman wearing a cream Milano 1975 sweater, blue jeans, and leopard print tote bag.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/991126208006_02jpg-JS968352648.jpg?strip=all&w=702)
Moving through to the Valentine-inspired collection, Sue spots a whimsical pink pinstripe blouse with red hearts stitched across it.
She gasps and says: “Oh my gosh, look at that shirt!”
Describing how she would style it with a white waistcoat, she drops the blouse into her basket, on top of her growing haul.
Viewers in the comments fawned over Sue’s new ‘do.
“Your hair, Sue, looks beautiful.
“Oh I just love your hair, it’s lovely Sue.”
While others mentioned the close relationship between the mother and daughters.
“You’ve all got such a lovely relationship with each other….”
“Aimee is my favourite, she has a wonderful personality and she is always smiling beautiful girl.”
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Who's who in the Radford family?
![](https://www.thesun.ie/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/l-r-aimme-6-chloe-18026495.jpg?strip=all&&w=620&&h=413&&crop=1)
The Radfords are Britain's biggest family with 22 children.
Here are the kids from eldest to youngest include:
- Chris – born May 7, 1989
- Sophie – born December 13, 1993
- Chloe – born July 31, 1995
- Jack – born April 9, 1997
- Daniel – born March 3, 1999
- Luke – born October 1, 2000
- Millie Radford – born August 29, 2001
- Katie – born November 14, 2002
- James – born October 17, 2003
- Ellie – born May 6, 2005
- Aimee – born April 21, 2006
- Josh – born July 3, 2007
- Max – born December 11, 2008
- Tillie – born May 2, 2010
- Oscar – born October 22, 2011
- Casper, – born October 3, 2012
- Hallie – born June 3, 2015
- Phoebe – born July 24, 2016
- Archie – born September 18, 2017
- Bonnie – born November 6, 2018
- Heidie – born April 3, 2020