The Road Ahead Is Unmanned: How Autonomous Ground Vehicles Can Transform Warfighting, Redefine Logistics, and Preserve America’s Tactical Edge

The Department of Defense (DoD) should fundamentally reshape military operations and combat effectiveness through the rapid adoption and integration of autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs) in advance of publishing its next National Defense Strategy (NDS). Over the last decade, warfare has evolved to feature more complex and contested environments. Autonomous vehicle technology has also innovated tremendously due to private sector innovations. These dynamic changes mean the DoD should better leverage AGV capabilities to reduce risk to servicemembers and provide greater battlefield sustainment.

There is a pressing need for the U.S. military to actively embrace AGVs to maintain tactical and operational superiority to achieve strategic deterrence against our near-peer adversaries. To capitalize effectively on this emerging technology, the DoD must prioritize commercial autonomy solutions, enforce open-architecture standards to avoid vendor lock-in, and accelerate operational experimentation within frontline units through flexible and rapid acquisition frameworks like Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs). Adding AGV training and familiarization within standard military training and doctrine would improve operational readiness and battlefield integration for a future fight, while maintaining safety for service members. Institutional resistance and traditional acquisition practices present substantial hurdles and overcoming them requires immediate, decisive policy action and sustained leadership focus.

This report recommends the DoD immediately adopt an “Autonomy First” framework featuring commercially available autonomy software and modular hardware platforms, standardized interoperability across service branches, and continuous frontline experimentation with intensive ground autonomy unit training. Additionally, we strongly recommend allocating additional resources, mostly funding, to ensure sustained momentum and full operational integration of AGVs. The DoD and the Army should leverage existing, innovation-forward organizations (like the Defense Innovation Unit and the Chief Digital Artificial Intelligence Office) to advance AGV procurement and production. This will ensure that the U.S. military maintains its strategic edge, enhances lethality, and maximizes warfighter capabilities in the rapidly evolving battlefield landscape.

Key Recommendations:

Recommendation #1: Immediately Cease Acquiring Manned Ground Systems

To catalyze a shift toward autonomy, the DoD should place a moratorium on new programs or purchases of ground vehicles that lack autonomous capabilities. Existing manned vehicle programs may continue only if they include autonomy or are compatible with retrofitting kits.

Recommendation #2: Adopt Commercial Autonomy Software as Default

DoD acquisition should begin with commercial ground autonomy software, leveraging proven private-sector solutions to speed capability delivery. A “Blue Convoy” vendor list—modeled after Blue UAS—should streamline and secure autonomy procurement across Services.

Recommendation #3: Acquire and Deploy AGVs at Scale Right Away

One of the DoD joint innovation organizations should lead a unified, accelerated acquisition effort across all Services to procure and field hundreds of AGVs by FY 2028, with strict performance and delivery metrics. Simultaneously, U.S. allies should be encouraged to integrate AGVs into their forces to support interoperability and global deterrence.

Recommendation #4: Use Rapid Field Experimentation as the Default Acquisition Model

AGV development and deployment should be driven by rapid experimentation within pilot units under real-world conditions, with centralized oversight by the one of the DoD joint innovation organizations. This includes deployments to controlled environments like the U.S. Southern Border and leveraging innovation efforts such as Golden Dome.

Recommendation #5: Fund Doctrine and Training in Parallel with Procurement

Doctrine, training, and simulation for AGVs must be developed and fielded alongside hardware to ensure units can effectively integrate autonomy into operations. Service schools and COCOMs should immediately begin updating curricula, doctrine, and simulation tools to institutionalize man-machine teaming.