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US Navy awards Saildrone $16.3M task order for expanded counternarcotics ops
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The U.S. Navy has awarded Saildrone, a California-based unmanned surface vehicle (USV) company, a $16.3 million task order to extend operations of its Voyager fleet in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific for expanded counternarcotics missions. This follows a recent incident where a Saildrone Voyager directly aided the Navy in seizing over $81 million worth of cocaine. Since 2023, Saildrone's USVs have supported Joint Interagency Task Force South 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. The extension aligns with the Trump administration's efforts to curb illicit narcotics flow into the U.S. Since September 2025, the U.S. military has conducted 66 strikes against alleged drug-carrying vessels, killing at least 196 people.
Source report
The U.S. Navy has awarded Saildrone, a California-based company, a $16.3 million task order to extend operations of its Voyager unmanned surface vehicle (USV) fleet in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, according to a recent company release.
The award follows the announcement that a Saildrone Voyager directly aided the Navy during a drug interdiction in the Caribbean, leading to the seizure of more than $81 million worth of cocaine.
The extension aligns with the Trump administration's efforts to curb illicit narcotics flowing into the United States via suspected drug-carrying vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.
Since 2023, Saildrone's USVs have worked in coordination with the U.S. Navy, supporting the Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S) and U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Navy Fourth Fleet.
"The continuity of Saildrone's presence along the southern border for nearly three years demonstrates the strategic value we bring as the world's most experienced operators of unmanned surface vehicles," said Saildrone President VADM (ret.) John Mustin. "Our unmatched ability to remain on station and on mission in critical regions for months at a time is why our fleet serves as a powerful deterrent to bad actors. We look forward to continuing to partner with the Navy in its mission to secure the country's maritime approaches and southern border."
Voyager Capabilities
The 33-foot-long Voyager is designed for persistent surface and subsurface surveillance and can also conduct nearshore mapping missions and seafloor characterization, the release states.
Able to remain "on mission and on station" for months at a time, the USVs are described by the company as "both a deterrent and an alarm" along the U.S.'s expansive southern maritime border.
Broader Counternarcotics Context
Since September 2025, the U.S. military has conducted strikes against alleged drug-carrying vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean in support of what the Pentagon has called continued counternarcotics efforts.
As of June 22, the Trump administration and U.S. military have disclosed 66 strikes, killing at least 196 people.
About the Author
Claire Barrett is an editor and military history correspondent for Military Times. She is also a World War II researcher with an affinity for Sir Winston Churchill and Michigan football.
Source
Defense NewsWestern
Part of this Story
U.S. Navy Expands Saildrone Unmanned Fleet for Counternarcotics Operations