Broken Drone, Far from Home: The Case for Overseas Autonomous System Sustainment

In 2028, a U.S. Navy unmanned undersea vehicle deployed near the Banda Sea requires urgent repairs in Yokosuka, Japan, a 15-day journey, while an unmanned surface vehicle faces delays in Singapore due to visa requirements for specialized technicians. These incidents highlight challenges in sustaining autonomous systems under the Navy’s 'Hedge Strategy' as the Fujian carrier strike group operates from China.