New Coast Guard Vessel?

We already do, an autonomous sub-seeker; the Sea Hunter, developed under a DARPA program. There are several variants to the platform, including coastal reconnaissance.

Saw it on 60 Minutes last night, plus other drone activities being developed for warfare......sigh

If it's beautiful in a concept, the armed forces will probably make it less beautiful in implementation. The p-51 being a notable exception from the past. If you are into something because it's visually stunning adoption by the armed forces will ruin the thrill.

You have to understand that the USCG is a largely conservative group that has typically been treated (in regards to budgets) as the proverbial red-headed step child amongst the other US armed forces and are highly resistant to promoting change. They are risk adverse and will only take on proven concepts, as they do not want to champion a new product that may eventually fail in the matching to their mission profile, causing unwanted consternation and scrutiny by US Senate Acquisition reviewers.

And the typical Mission Profile for the average USCG Cutter or Patrol vessel is 80 - 90% loiter, at speeds less than 8 knots. Endurance and crew features are highly important to them.

On top of that, reliability is high on their list of priorities. Unlike a navy that can plan missions around weather constraints the coast guard has to go into heavy weather to rescue civilians. A multihull has to be very stoutly built to be relied upon under those conditions.

There have been many cases where the final selection for Coast Guard or Naval vessels was not the real best fit or solution, as these types of procurement activities have many layers attached to the decision makers. Political pressure, shipyard survivability, economic and job prospects are just a few. At times it becomes a sort of witches cauldron, with many competing factions trying to stir the pot. And the process can get rather extended.

I am amazed at some of the tired vessels that the men and women of the USCG are forced to operate in offshore waters, some with 40 years of hard sea time on their hulls. The USA can do better, but until they change their processes, these procurements usually go down the same path as they have for decades. There is a better picture on the smaller craft, like under 40', the procurement activities are more fluid and they are getting more modern and unique solutions.

And you see today how well that's worked out for them

I've had the opportunity to attend both Independence and Freedom class Littoral vessels as a consultant for coating failures in their machinery spaces in the last 18 months and while both Austal U.S. and Marinette Marine construct and fit out these vessels with either MTU 8000 series, Colt Pielstick or Rolls Royce G.T . main propulsion plants, the common denominator that I heard the engineering dept. heads complain about were the unreliable Isotta Fraschini generator plants. How in the world Fincantieri of North America won the contracts to supply the generator and PMS for these vessels is beyond reason? Both class of vessels are equipped with four generator plants each and apparently the Chief's can barley keep two in running order with PMAV's. I do believe that the other units under construction will still have the Issotta's installed even though they've proven to be highly unreliable.