The U.S. Army is moving to integrate autonomous capabilities into its amphibious landing ships and other maritime watercraft to secure contested supply lines across the Pacific.
The maritime force, often described as the Army's Navy, provides critical logistics support across vast oceanic distances where traditional transport routes face severe vulnerabilities in a major conflict.
Army Maj. Gen. Frederick Crist, head of the 8th Theater Sustainment Command, outlined the service's acquisition plans during the Association of the United States Army annual symposium. "We continue partnering with industry to be able to move into autonomous watercraft systems to be able to conduct other means of maritime distribution," Crist said at the conference.
The service intends to procure up to 100 purpose-built uncrewed surface vessels while positioning composite watercraft companies west of the International Date Line to sustain theater distribution under contested conditions.
The exact timeline for fielding the proposed uncrewed fleets remains under review as military planners adjust force posture across the region.