U.S. Marines Go High-Tech with Autonomous Hovercraft: Unmanned and Unstoppable

U.S. Navy Plans for Unmanned Fleet
Capable of Rapid and Large-Scale Landings
Experiments Recently with Autonomous Navigation Devices

Aside from events such as the War of Independence against Britain and the Civil War, the United States has never waged a war within its borders, conducting most of its wars as expeditionary forces. Therefore, rapidly deploying large troops to foreign lands was crucial. As a result, the U.S. military’s amphibious operations are among the best in the world, and the equipment required for these operations is no exception.

One of the representative equipment is the hovercraft, and recently, the United States has developed an autonomous navigation device that operates this hovercraft unmanned and has entered the experimental stage. This can be perceived as a component of the U.S. military’s ongoing unmanned fleet project.

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Unmanned Hovercraft Experiment
The Key is Minimizing Loss of Life

The experiment occurred at a U.S. Marine Corps base in California, where all operations, from navigating the sea to approaching the coast, were carried out autonomously through an automated navigation system. It was virtually no different from conducting an amphibious operation unmanned.

Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Smith, who was in charge of the experiment, stated that the experiment had reached its final stage and that the most critical purpose was to eliminate casualties during operations. It’s not just about driving but taking responsibility for going to the shore so that the pilot can focus on landing, making operations more efficient.

Continuing U.S. Navy’s Unmanned Fleet Plan
A Desperately Needed System for the U.S.

The U.S. military is already very proactive in the unmanned fleet plan and plans to deploy it realistically. The U.S. wanted to deploy drones and unmanned surface warfare in the Gulf Coast, known for its severe coastal security, along with pro-U.S. countries such as Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. This demonstrates that the U.S. has successfully attained unmanned maritime capabilities ready for deployment in actual combat scenarios.

The United States is the only country that can influence all six oceans through its numerous ocean navies. Nonetheless, this advancement will incur additional costs and expose the U.S. military to ongoing operational risks. Given the U.S. military’s sensitivity to even a small number of casualties, unmanned surface warfare and drones operated by unmanned fleets will be more needed in the U.S. than in other countries. Ultimately, no regulations prevent the Navy from harnessing the array of unmanned weapons currently employed by the Army and Air Force, is there?

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Various Nations Using Hovercrafts

Hovercrafts are operated not only by the U.S. military but also by South Korea and, somewhat surprisingly, even North Korea. Therefore, the autonomous navigation technology developed by the United States will significantly help the South Korean Navy, and there is a possibility of sharing it considering the characteristics of the national army that conducts many joint operations with the U.S. military.