Lockheed Martin has announced a significant $50 million investment in Saildrone, aimed at arming the company’s unmanned surface vessels (USVs) with advanced defense systems. This partnership is set to integrate Lockheed Martin’s proven weapons technologies into Saildrone’s autonomous maritime platforms, with plans for live-fire demonstrations scheduled for 2026.
The initial phase of the collaboration will focus on incorporating the JAGM Quad Launcher system from Lockheed Martin onto Saildrone’s Surveyor platform. At the same time, Saildrone is developing larger platforms to accommodate heavier payloads, including the Mk70 VLS launcher and thin line towed arrays.
Stephanie C. Hill, President of Lockheed Martin’s Rotary and Mission Systems, emphasized that this partnership aligns with the defense industry’s need to innovate and expand capabilities, responding to the U.S. government’s call for more integrated, scalable national defense solutions. The integration of commercial and defense-grade technologies aims to deliver operationally ready armed USVs to the U.S. Navy at speed.
Since its founding in 2013, Saildrone has primarily focused on commercial maritime applications, utilizing wind, solar, and wave power to extend the endurance of its USVs. These vessels, first deployed by the U.S. Navy in 2021, are now operating in combat environments worldwide. Under the terms of the agreement, Saildrone will remain responsible for shipbuilding, while Lockheed Martin will serve as the lead mission integrator.
Richard Jenkins, the CEO and founder of Saildrone, explained that the company’s focus over the last decade has been on refining the reliability, autonomy, and endurance of its vessels. With over 2 million nautical miles sailed in active missions, Saildrone has demonstrated its capability to withstand the toughest conditions, pushing the limits of its technology in the harshest environments.
As part of the expanded collaboration, Saildrone’s USVs will gain new capabilities such as electronic warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surveillance, and kinetic operations, all of which will be integrated with Lockheed Martin’s command, control, and fire control systems. This enhancement will significantly broaden the operational capabilities of unmanned vessels, enabling them to perform more complex military tasks.
The collaboration is also expected to drive job creation at Austal USA, a shipyard located on the Gulf Coast, as Saildrone produces larger platforms to meet the growing demand for defense capabilities. However, the companies also noted that the shipbuilding efforts will be flexible and could involve other shipyards as the program scales up.
This investment is designed to accelerate the deployment of autonomous maritime systems capable of fleet defense, undersea surveillance, reconnaissance, and offensive missions. The companies are adopting an open-architecture approach to ensure these new technologies are operational as quickly as possible, integrating commercial and defense technologies into a unified, efficient solution.
