U.S. Marines test new unmanned amphibious craft

The United States Marine Corps has tested a new unmanned amphibious ground vehicle during a recent Technical Concept Experiment 25.2 at Red Beach on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, according to materials released following the event.

The experimental platform, described as an Unmanned Swarming Amphibious Craft, was observed operating along the shoreline and surf zone during the exercise. The system appears designed to move from sea to shore without a crew, supporting Marine Corps efforts to expand unmanned capabilities for contested littoral operations.

The vehicle is an amphibious, tracked unmanned system equipped with additional flotation elements intended to improve buoyancy and stability in rough sea conditions. These features allow the platform to approach the shoreline from open water and transition onto land, even in higher wave environments.

The system does not appear to carry weapons and was instead fitted with sensors, communications equipment, and a flat cargo deck.

According to information visible during the demonstration, the vehicle includes a remote-control architecture supported by satellite communications. This configuration suggests the platform is intended for operations beyond line-of-sight, potentially allowing operators to control or supervise missions from ships or command posts located well offshore.

The Marine Corps has not released technical specifications such as weight, payload capacity, range, or endurance. Officials have also not confirmed whether the system is intended primarily for logistics, reconnaissance, sensor deployment, or other roles. The absence of visible armament indicates the test focused on mobility, control, and survivability in the amphibious environment rather than combat employment.

The Unmanned Swarming Amphibious Craft concept aligns with the Marine Corps’ evolving doctrine focused on smaller, more dispersed forces operating across island chains and coastal regions. In such scenarios, autonomous or remotely operated platforms could reduce logistical strain while maintaining operational reach.