The U.S. is testing a bold new idea to solve its biggest military challenge in the Pacific: how to move supplies safely if war with China breaks out over Taiwan.

California-based Grid Aero has unveiled the Lifter-Lite, a low-cost, autonomous cargo aircraft that can carry up to 7,000 pounds over 2,000 miles. Unlike giant cargo planes, these small “robot trucks of the skies” would be deployed in swarms, making it too costly for China to target them with multimillion-dollar missiles.

Why should India care? Because the Indo-Pacific is a shared strategic space. If such technology proves effective, it could influence future U.S.-India defense cooperation, joint logistics, and even humanitarian missions across the Indian Ocean.

While still experimental, the Lifter-Lite hints at how future wars, and supply chains, could look. For India, it’s a development worth watching closely.