SOUTHCOM Seeks Unmanned Systems for River Reconnaissance

Gen. Francis Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command, said the command is interested in using autonomous or unmanned platforms to gather information on rivers in Central and South America. The concept would combine surface, aerial and subsurface systems.

Key details

• The proposed capability would help SOUTHCOM understand river routes used to transport narcotics and identify places where criminal groups assemble vessels.
• SOUTHCOM established the SOUTHCOM Autonomous Warfare Command (SAWC) to work with autonomous, semi-autonomous and unmanned systems across domains.
• Donovan described SAWC as a place for U.S. and allied forces to train and experiment with unmanned technology. Its activities include an in-theater facility at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, with federal agencies and industry potentially participating in tests.
• Donovan gave the interview on October 13, 2026.

Donovan said the proposed capability would combine surface, aerial and subsurface systems.

Why it matters

River reconnaissance could give U.S. and partner forces information about waterways used for narcotics transport and locations where vessels are assembled. SAWC offers a setting for military, government and industry participants to test unmanned systems.

What happens next

SOUTHCOM’s training and experimentation work will give its partners a place to explore how autonomous platforms can support river reconnaissance. Which unmanned systems could prove most useful on the region’s waterways?