US looks to expand use of canoe-sized drones to deter migrant crossings

The Pentagon is considering expanding the use of miniature surveillance boats along the Rio Grande and in the Gulf of Mexico, following their successful deployment in a pilot program that began in January. These canoe-sized drones, built by San Diego-based company Seasats, patrol the waters for extended periods without crews and are part of a broader trend of defense startups providing cost-effective, autonomous surveillance and security solutions.

The drones, which draw power from solar panels, carry sensors that relay real-time tracking data to military software networks, including Palantir and Anduril Industries' platforms. In an average month, the drones have assisted in 452 detections, 350 apprehensions, and 100 turnbacks, alerting authorities about illegal border crossings and narcotics trafficking attempts.

Defense officials aim to increase the fleet of these robotic vessels from the current test group of 10 to 50, acting as a cost-effective alternative to Coast Guard cutters and crewed aircraft patrolling the border. The drones' prolonged operational capabilities and low environmental impact make them well-suited for monitoring remote coastal areas, as cartels increasingly exploit these regions to move drugs.