The US Army is developing autonomous, AI-controlled robotic rafts that can self-assemble into bridges during combat operations, aiming to reduce casualties among combat engineers who currently perform this dangerous task under enemy fire. The initiative comes as lessons from the Ukraine war have highlighted the extreme dangers of bridge-building operations, where Russian forces suffered heavy casualties attempting river crossings defended by Ukrainian troops.
Through its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) solicitation, the Army is seeking proposals from contractors to develop what it describes as the combat engineering equivalent of drone swarms—autonomous systems that can coordinate and operate independently. These AI-powered floating bridges would enable “unpredictable dispersed river crossings” while increasing crew survivability by removing human operators from the craft.
The current standard, the Improved Ribbon Bridge produced by General Dynamics European Land Systems, requires combat engineers to spend up to 30 minutes exposed in the middle of a river while assembling bridge sections using boats. In today’s battlefield environment, with advanced drones, long-range tactical missiles, and smart artillery shells, this represents an unacceptable risk.
The Army acknowledges that decades of counterinsurgency warfare have eroded capabilities that were once proficient during World War II operations like the Rhine River crossing in 1945. Some experts worry there aren’t enough bridge-building units, and Army divisions may lack sufficient river-crossing resources without additional engineering support.
Technical challenges for the autonomous bridge-building system are substantial. The AI must coordinate multiple unmanned robotic rafting bays to avoid colliding with terrain obstacles and each other in potentially turbulent waters. Phase I of the project requires contractors to specify necessary AI, sensors, and communication systems. Phase II demands a prototype that can function despite cyberattacks and in GPS-denied environments where satellite signals are jammed.
Beyond military applications, the Army suggests successful development could benefit commercial sectors including pipeline inspection, package delivery, undersea exploration, agricultural work, and space exploration. Other military bridging system manufacturers include European defense firm KNDS and US-based Acrow. The ultimate goal is protecting combat engineers—sappers—while enabling faster, safer river crossings for armored vehicles and supply columns.
Key Quotes
The fielding of autonomous powered floating bridges will enable the Army to conduct unpredictable dispersed river crossings, increase crew survivability by removing the man from the craft, and reduce logistics footprint over the Improved Ribbon Bridge in use today by combining both payload capacity and powertrain into a single craft
This statement from the Army’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) solicitation outlines the core objectives of the AI-powered bridge project, emphasizing both tactical advantages and the life-saving potential of removing human operators from dangerous positions.
Future Gap Crossing technology must consider near peer adversarial capabilities and support sustainment operations in a lethal contested logistics environment when the enemy can attack targets at virtually any depth within the battlespace
The Army’s SBIR warning acknowledges the fundamental shift in modern warfare that necessitates this technology—the ability of adversaries to strike anywhere on the battlefield with precision weapons, making traditional bridge-building operations extremely hazardous.
numerous unmanned robotic rafting bays, all in the general vicinity of each other, from colliding with terrain obstacles (man-made or natural) and each other in potentially turbulent waters
This excerpt from the SBIR solicitation highlights one of the most significant technical challenges: developing AI systems capable of coordinating multiple autonomous units in unpredictable, dynamic river environments without human intervention.
Our Take
This initiative represents a fascinating intersection of military necessity and AI capability maturation. The Ukraine war has effectively become a testing ground revealing vulnerabilities in conventional military operations, accelerating adoption of autonomous systems. What’s particularly noteworthy is the complexity being demanded: these aren’t simple autonomous vehicles following predetermined paths, but AI systems that must coordinate in real-time, adapt to dynamic conditions, and operate under active electronic warfare. The requirement for GPS-denied operation and cyber-resilience shows the military is thinking seriously about contested environments against sophisticated adversaries. The 30-minute exposure time for current bridge-building operations is simply untenable in modern warfare—this isn’t just about efficiency but survival. If successful, this technology could fundamentally change military logistics and potentially revolutionize civilian construction and infrastructure deployment in hazardous environments. The dual-use applications mentioned aren’t afterthoughts; they represent genuine commercial potential for AI-coordinated autonomous systems in challenging physical environments.
Why This Matters
This development represents a significant expansion of AI and autonomous systems into critical military infrastructure operations, moving beyond reconnaissance drones to complex, coordinated engineering tasks. The Ukraine conflict has served as a stark demonstration of how modern warfare’s lethality—with precision strikes possible at any depth—demands removing humans from the most exposed positions.
The project highlights broader trends in military AI adoption: autonomous coordination of multiple robotic systems, operation in contested electromagnetic environments, and resilience against cyberattacks. These requirements push AI capabilities beyond controlled environments into chaotic, adversarial conditions.
For the defense technology industry, this opens new markets for AI-powered autonomous systems that can perform complex physical tasks requiring real-time coordination. The dual-use potential—from construction to logistics—suggests these technologies could transform civilian infrastructure operations as well. Most significantly, this initiative reflects the military’s recognition that AI and robotics aren’t just force multipliers but essential tools for preserving human life in increasingly lethal combat environments, potentially reshaping how armies approach dangerous engineering operations globally.
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/us-army-ai-robots-build-bridges-2025-2