Army wants up to 100 drone boats to fill watercraft gap in Pacific

The U.S. Army plans to acquire 30 to 100 autonomous drone boats to address a Pacific watercraft shortage, with testing set for 2025. The Army's fleet has declined from 134 vessels in 2018 to 70 in 2024, with mission-capable rates dropping below 40%. Maj. Gen. Gavin Gardner and Gen. Ronald Clark emphasized the need for heavy-duty autonomous vessels to transport supplies and equipment in the region.