US Navy Extends Saildrone Contract After Drone Helps Seize $81 Million in Cocaine

Since 2021, the US Navy has partnered with Saildrone to employ its Voyager unmanned surface vehicles for drug-interdiction work. After a recent mission in which the Voyager’s sensors fed actionable intelligence to a Navy task force, resulting in the seizure of over $81 million worth of cocaine, the Navy granted Saildrone a $16.3 million contract extension. The funding will sustain the deployment of several Voyager drones in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, supporting the Fourth Fleet’s efforts to detect smugglers before they reach the US coastline.

Saildrone president and retired Navy vice admiral John Mustin highlighted the platform’s ability to remain on station for months thanks to its large windsail, which powers both propulsion and onboard systems. The drones operate alongside manned vessels, extending the surveillance net for Joint Interagency Task Force South and US Naval Forces Southern Command. Their long-duration presence is intended to act as an early warning system against illicit maritime activity, especially when smugglers exploit poor weather and off-hours to evade detection.