White House / President·Border
Pentagon weighs expanding canoe-sized drone boats on the Rio Grande
The Pentagon may expand autonomous Seasats Lightfish surveillance boats on the Rio Grande and in the Gulf of Mexico after a pilot program begun in January helped detect and deter illegal crossings and narcotics trafficking, a U.S. official told Reuters (reported by NewsNation). Defense officials want to grow the test fleet from 10 vessels by as many as 50 to ease strain on Coast Guard cutters and crewed aircraft under President Trump’s immigration crackdown. The 11-foot, 340-pound solar-powered Lightfish costs about $240,000 and can operate for months; the Pentagon said that in an average month the drones assisted in 452 detections, 350 apprehensions and 100 turnbacks. Assistant Secretary M. Roosevelt Ditlevson said maritime drones are “cost-effective solutions” as cartels push into coastal waterways.
- NewsNation / ReutersPentagon may increase unmanned canoe-size drones on the Rio Grande