What if a personal watercraft could become a silent, autonomous sentinel for Canada’s rivers and coasts?
That’s the question innovator and venture capitalist Charles Bombardier posed on LinkedIn on April 16, unveiling his latest concept: the Sea-Drone 88 (SD-88). Designed as a stealthy, electric-powered personal watercraft, the SD-88 is intended to tackle logistically complex waterways such as Arctic passages, inland rivers, and vulnerable coastal zones.
Image of the Sea-Drone 88 – created by Midjourney & published on LinkedIn Post.
A Maritime Game Changer?
At its core, the SD-88 would incorporate electric or hybrid propulsion, allowing for silent operation—critical for discreet monitoring tasks. The design also includes:
- Stabilized HD and thermal cameras
- Satellite communications uplinks
- Kevlar-reinforced hull
- Towing capabilities
- A modular payload bay for mission customization
Units could be launched from trailers, ships, or shore facilities and would operate autonomously along pre-mapped routes. With onboard AI, they could adapt behavior based on detected activity, transmitting real-time data feeds to command centers. Despite their autonomy, each unit would remain tethered to a secure remote interface, enabling human oversight and control if necessary.
Mission-Ready Versatility
The Sea-Drone 88’s modularity makes it an appealing tool for a variety of mission profiles. Potential add-ons include:
- Non-lethal deterrents such as flare or smoke launchers
- Electronic warfare systems for localized signal jamming
- Micro-turrets for light kinetic response
- Laser target designators to coordinate with airborne or terrestrial forces
According to Bombardier, such capabilities could redefine how allied nations approach shared security challenges.
“Sea-Drone 88 could become a flexible tool within shared security frameworks,” he wrote. “Its deployment along waterways like the St. Lawrence, Bering Strait, or even the Rio Grande could support both sovereignty enforcement and humanitarian missions.”
A Canadian Solution to a Global Challenge?
From Arctic sovereignty patrols to conservation monitoring and cross-border coordination, the SD-88 reflects a future-forward response to evolving security environments. With increasing attention on remote and under-patrolled regions, Bombardier’s concept offers a low-profile, high-impact approach.
Whether the Sea-Drone 88 becomes reality or not, it sparks an important dialogue on Canada’s ability to secure its waterways in a sustainable, tech-driven manner. As climate change and geopolitical pressures reshape our maritime landscape, innovation like this may soon be more necessity than novelty.
To read Charles Bombardier’s original concept, visit his LinkedIn post here.
Canada Defence Journal 