Pentagon considers expanding autonomous boat fleet for border surveillance

The Pentagon is considering expanding its use of autonomous surveillance vessels following a successful pilot program along the Rio Grande. Defense officials are looking to increase the current fleet of 10 unmanned boats to as many as 50.

The pilot program utilizes Lightfish vessels produced by San Diego-based startup Seasats. These canoe-sized, solar-powered drones cost approximately $240,000 each and are designed for long-duration, low-profile patrols without a crew. During the pilot, the vessels assisted in an average monthly total of 452 detections, 350 apprehensions, and 100 “turnbacks,” where individuals abandoned crossing attempts upon detection.

Officials intend to deploy these relatively inexpensive systems to relieve pressure on Coast Guard cutters and crewed aircraft. Future operations may extend beyond the river into the Gulf of Mexico to monitor coastal routes used by narcotics traffickers and migrant smugglers. M. Roosevelt Ditlevson, assistant secretary of defense for Homeland Defense and Americas Security Affairs, described the drones as “cost-effective solutions to interdict and put people in these areas that narco traffickers are now moving towards.”