Navy trials robotic refueling to extend unmanned boat missions in contested waters

The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division reported a successful sea trial of a robotic refueling system for uncrewed surface vessels. The test, conducted near Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, involved the T38 USV from Maritime Tactical Systems and a Sealartec capture-and-connection refuel rig. Over several runs, the drone approached, connected, received fuel, and disengaged without human operators controlling each step.

The Navy views this as a step toward fully autonomous refueling, which would allow unmanned boats to operate longer in hostile zones, supporting hypersonic and other long-range weapons testing that requires dispersed data-gathering assets. Officials highlighted the potential to lessen reliance on manned vessels, cut costs, and maintain mission coverage without returning to port for fuel. Future trials will focus on improving maneuvering precision and local positioning to achieve end-to-end autonomy.