Pentagon demands robotic cargo ships for coastal combat missions

The Pentagon, through the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), is seeking to develop small, autonomous robotic cargo vessels designed to deliver supplies through contested coastal waters without endangering US sailors. These vessels are intended to address the "littoral contested logistics challenge," where distributed military operations face threats targeting logistics in hostile, near-shore environments. The Pentagon’s solicitation calls for low-cost, expendable freighters capable of carrying at least 9 tons of cargo, including standard military pallets and containers, with a stealthy, low-profile design compact enough to be transported on a commercial tractor-trailer. The ships must travel 1,000 to 2,000 miles at speeds of at least 12 knots, operate in sea state 5 conditions, and complete deliveries within 180 days of contract award. Key operational requirements emphasize autonomous navigation in complex, crowded, and GPS-denied environments, with systems able to maintain positioning and timing despite jamming or degraded communications. Remote human control and reprogramming