A Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant (WMEC 617) small boat crew interdicts two suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean Sea, July 25, 2025. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Vigilant/DVIDS)

Defense Scoop reports.

“As the Trump administration unleashes a new strategy targeting Latin American drug cartels determined to be “narcoterrorists” with direct military action, the Pentagon is moving to buy nonkinetic weapons that can disrupt, disable, or prevent the operation of small watercraft with minimal collateral damage or potential harm to nearby civilians and boat operators.”

It does sound like they may also be talking about more than just getting a go-fast to stop, like maybe stop a swarm of USVs using micro waves.

Also looks like they do not want to spend the time the Coast Guard spends training their air borne use of force marksmen.

Years ago, I saw the Coast Guard was also looking for weapon/device that can stop a boat without the possibility of collateral damage. We would probably still like to have something like that.