THE PROBLEM: Drugs, human trafficking, and related violence from maritime trafficking affect millions of people — not only in the Caribbean, but also the mainland U.S., including the 95,000 miles of coastline. When engaging with a suspicious vessel, enforcement personnel often have limited information regarding weapons or bad actors on board, putting agents at risk. Coast Guard operations rely on Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) data, but gathering it traditionally consumes vast resources that could be preserved for higher-priority missions. A reduction in personnel risk and increase in MDA intelligence was necessary. 

THE SOLUTION: The Coast Guard Research and Development Center (RDC) devised a rapid technology transfer testbed, integrating remote sensing, networking, and data transport technologies to enhance future MDA capabilities. Through a month-long Operational Demonstration COQUI, researchers deployed these technologies alongside Coast Guard operators in real operating environments. To improve actional MDA and enhance border security for Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) maritime operations, the RDC deployed two uncrewed surface vessels and two uncrewed aircraft systems throughout Mona Passage — a 3,200-square-mile region between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic known for frequent trafficking activity. Using advanced cameras and sensors, the RDC uncrewed systems provided unprecedented visuals and access to high-risk areas, significantly improving MDA capabilities. These systems relayed critical intelligence to the Coast Guard and CBP command centers, enhancing operational decision-making and response efforts. 

THE TECH TRANSFER MECHANISM: Developing the rapid technology transfer testbed was a multi-year effort and required expertise and collaboration across virtually all research branches, including Aviation, Surface, IT & Networks, Rapid Response Technology, and Environments & Waterways. The technology transfer effort is ongoing, as RDC and its Caribbean-based Coast Guard and CBP partners are developing another phase of regional deployments. The successful transition of RDC technology during COQUI was so widely regarded that regional teams have redesigned aspects of upcoming, large-scale enforcement operations to better incorporate the technology. 

THE OUTCOMES: The innovative research conducted by the RDC team will contribute to improving the Coast Guard’s MDA capabilities as an element of border security, while addressing major enforcement mission needs and balancing cost, risk, and overall feasibility. The month-long deployment demonstrated how improved technology enables Coast Guard and CBP units to conserve and reallocate substantial operational resources. Overall, significantly less illicit activity was recorded in Mona Passage during RDC’s demonstration. CBP also reported that the technology disrupted smuggling efforts so effectively that agents could intervene with greater confidence, leading to several arrests.