Insitu’s ScanEagle assists USCG’s Stratton national security cutter

Insitu's ScanEagle unmanned air vehicle has assisted the US Coast Guard's (USCG) national security cutter, Stratton, during a latest deployment in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The Stratton is said to be the first USCG cutter to be equipped with a small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) for an entire patrol.

The sUAS helped the USCG in seizing more than 1,676kg of illicit contraband valued at $55m and arresting ten suspected drug traffickers.

Insitu president and CEO Ryan Hartman said: "We are proud to celebrate the great success of this first deployment, and thank these brave men and women of the US Coast Guard for the work they do to keep our nation and our global waters safe.”

During the six-week deployment, ScanEagle conducted 39 sorties that lasted for 279 hours, including an operation where the aircraft provided uninterrupted surveillance for 22.7 flight hours in a 24-hour period.

The ScanEagle's multiple sensors including electro-optic, thermal and telescope cameras delivered aerial imagery to the crew aboard Stratton.

Using the imagery, the crew and decision makers will be able to execute real-time actionable intelligence.

The Stratton has been deployed to patrol the eastern Pacific Ocean, as part of a contract awarded to Insitu last year to provide UAS intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance services aboard one USCG national security cutter.

Last month, the USCG issued a draft request for proposal to procure sUAS capabilities for its entire national security cutter fleet.

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Image: Insitu's ScanEagle helped the USCG intercept more than six tonnes of cocaine during a recent deployment aboard Stratton. Photo: courtesy of PR Newswire Association LLC /Insitu.