The Army is developing requirements to distribute supplies to troops on the battlefield in a contested environment using a network of autonomous boats and aircraft, according to Brig. Gen. Shane Upton, the Contested Logistics Cross Functional Team lead within Army Futures Command.
Upton’s team plans to take an abbreviated capabilities document on requirements for autonomous watercraft to the Pentagon for approval soon. They are also looking into larger cargo drones for supply distribution.
Smaller, autonomous watercraft and unmanned air systems are being considered for supply delivery, particularly in the Pacific region. The Army demonstrated cargo drones at Project Convergence, showing the potential for using unmanned aircraft systems for supply and distribution.
The industry for small, autonomous watercraft is growing rapidly, with some companies going from creation to having boats in the water within a year.
Advancements in larger cargo drones and faster autonomous vessels are on the horizon, with the potential for using them as decoys or adding lethal effects. Emerging tech features such as hydrogen-powered drones show promise in future developments.