The US Coast Guard is moving forward with plans to partner with Lockheed Martin on the development of a high-power microwave (HPM) weapon system intended for deployment on small maritime craft to counter fast-moving smuggling vessels.
The project is aimed at closing capability gaps in intercepting highly maneuverable platforms such as jet skis and uncrewed surface vessels, which are increasingly being used in illicit activities including narcotics trafficking and human smuggling. Such targets often prove difficult for the Coast Guard’s existing 33-foot patrol craft to pursue and stop effectively.
The HPM effector is designed to neutralize hostile or non-compliant vessels at range using concentrated electromagnetic energy bursts capable of disrupting or damaging onboard electronic systems. By disabling critical electronics and engines, the weapon would force targeted vessels to stop without direct physical engagement.
Challenges With Existing HPM Systems
Current high-power microwave technologies are constrained by substantial size, weight, and power demands, making integration onto smaller vessels difficult. Jet skis are considered especially challenging targets because their engine systems are enclosed within the vehicle structure, reducing exposure to electromagnetic effects.
To address these limitations, the Coast Guard initiative seeks to redesign and adapt HPM technology for use aboard compact patrol boats and personal watercraft platforms.
Development of the CVSC Prototype
In parallel with the effort, the USCG Research and Development Center, together with the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate and the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, is developing a prototype vessel known as the Contactless Vessel Stopping Capability (CVSC) craft.
The CVSC uses highly energized radio-frequency pulses as its primary stopping mechanism, overwhelming the targeted vessel’s electronic circuitry to disable operations. Developers say the craft is specifically intended to intercept maritime threats that current HPM systems struggle to engage effectively.
