Exclusive: U.S. Army Conducts First Fully Autonomous Ship-to-Shore Resupply Operation.

The U.S. Army has successfully tested an autonomous ship-to-shore resupply system as part of its Project Convergence Capstone 5 (PC-C5), showcasing how unmanned systems can reshape future military logistics. Conducted in April 2025, the test involved an Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) autonomously transporting and offloading a supply-loaded Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) onshore, demonstrating a fully automated operation from sea to land.
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An unmanned surface vessel (USV) navigates Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, during a Project Convergence Capstone 5 (PC-C5) rehearsal in April 2025. As part of the experiment, the USV successfully executed an autonomous ship-to-shore resupply mission, including the automated offloading of a supply-laden unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

This capability is central to the U.S. Army’s broader modernization efforts, aimed at adapting to the evolving requirements of high-intensity, multi-domain warfare. The USVs involved in the demonstration featured advanced autonomy kits with GPS-based navigation, real-time sensor integration, obstacle avoidance, and secure communications. These features allow the vessels to operate independently, making dynamic decisions based on environmental data and mission needs without human control. Once ashore, the USV autonomously offloaded a UGV, which was also equipped to navigate and deliver supplies on land without human intervention.

The combination of USV (Unmanned Surface Vessel) and UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle) technologies provides a modular and scalable logistics platform that could play a vital role in supporting distributed operations in future combat scenarios. These autonomous systems enable the rapid delivery of ammunition, medical supplies, food, and fuel directly to forward positions in contested or denied environments—reducing the risk to personnel and minimizing the reliance on traditional manned convoys or rotary-wing aircraft, which are more vulnerable to enemy fire and surveillance.

Colonel William “Will” C. Arnold, Chief of Transportation at the Combined Arms Support Command, highlighted the importance of the test, noting that the Army is learning how to command and control these systems in realistic, joint-operational environments. This experimentation supports the broader transformation of logistics doctrine and battlefield support, in alignment with the Army’s shift toward more agile, technology-driven combat operations.

Project Convergence Capstone 5, hosted by the U.S. Army, is a culmination of joint and multinational experimentation designed to integrate personnel, technologies, and platforms across domains. It brings together the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and allied nations in a coordinated effort to validate and refine new concepts of warfare. The 2025 iteration of PC-C5 focuses on data-driven decision-making, enhanced maneuver capabilities, and integrated operations across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains.

The autonomous resupply test conducted at Pearl Harbor underscores the growing importance of robotics and autonomy in logistics operations. As future conflict scenarios demand speed, resilience, and the ability to operate in dispersed environments, such systems offer a practical and effective solution for sustaining forces on the battlefield. Particularly in regions like the Indo-Pacific, where operations may be spread across vast island chains, autonomous ship-to-shore logistics could become essential for maintaining supply lines under hostile conditions.

The successful test validates key technologies and reflects a strategic shift in how the U.S. Army plans to sustain future combat forces. By leveraging automation and unmanned platforms, the Army is taking critical steps toward reducing the logistical footprint of its operations, increasing survivability, and ensuring that future warfighters have the support they need—anytime, anywhere.