The United States’ northern maritime approaches span thousands of miles of coastline, high-traffic waterways, productive fishing grounds, and vast operating areas where visibility is critical but difficult to maintain. From the Great Lakes to the North Atlantic, the US Coast Guard is responsible for detecting suspicious vessel activity, securing the US border and its maritime approaches, facilitating the flow of commerce vital to economic prosperity, and safeguarding domestic fisheries. Unpredictable weather, seasonal conditions, and the scale of the region make persistent monitoring a challenge for traditional patrols, along with crew endurance, maintenance requirements, and distance constraints.