US Navy awards Saildrone $16.3 mln task order to expand counternarcotics ops in Caribbean, Eastern Pacific

Published Aug 5, 02:37 PM UTC

The U.S. Navy has awarded Saildrone a $16.3 million task order to extend operations of its Voyager unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific for expanded counternarcotics missions. This follows a recent incident where a Saildrone Voyager directly aided a drug interdiction leading to the seizure of over $81 million worth of cocaine. The extension aligns with the Trump administration's efforts to curb illicit narcotics flowing into the United States. Since 2023, Saildrone's USVs have supported the Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S) and U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Navy Fourth Fleet. The 33-foot Voyager is designed for persistent surveillance and can remain on station for months. Since September 2025, the U.S. military has conducted 66 strikes against alleged drug-carrying vessels, killing at least 196 people.