US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said recently that its Autonomous Warfare Command (SAWC) and Panama's National Aeronaval Service are expanding the deployment of long-endurance unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) to strengthen security along the Panamanian coast and combat criminal networks operating across borders.
The USVs are intended to maintain a persistent patrol presence along key sea lanes, giving Panamanian forces additional means to detect, monitor and respond to illicit activity.
The US Navy brought the USVs to Panama for Exercise Panamax 2026, which took place from August 3 to 13, 2026.
Following the exercise, the US Embassy in Panama and SOUTHCOM coordinated with Panama's Ministry of Security to retain the vessels for a mission protecting Panamanian territorial waters and critical maritime routes and countering drug trafficking.
SOUTHCOM said the craft supplement Panama's existing vessels, aircraft and personnel, while manned assets remain available for response and interdiction.
"Their onboard radar and electro-optical sensors provide many of the enhanced detection capabilities associated with a manned patrol craft, allowing operators to maintain awareness over a larger area," said US Marine Corps Colonel Ian Fletcher, commander of SAWC.
Fletcher added that the USVs can operate alongside manned patrol craft and pass information to crews at sea, thus giving partner forces greater flexibility and expanding the area they can monitor without requiring additional personnel.
The current mission does not extend to the Panama Canal, though Fletcher said future work could include, "exploring how systems can operate safely and effectively in the canal environment."
The effort forms part of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition's work to coordinate regional action targeting cartels and narco-terrorist networks.
Built by Saronic Technologies, the USV is a 7.3-metre autonomous vessel that the manufacturer said can carry up to 450 kilograms of payload, has a range exceeding 1,000 nautical miles and a top speed in excess of 35 knots.
A similar Saronic-built USV was used in June to transport two downed US Army aviators to a helicopter pickup point near Oman.
