Lockheed Martin Invests $50M in Saildrone to Integrate JAGM Quad Launcher and Mk70 VLS
Lockheed Martin has committed a $50 million investment into Saildrone, establishing a strategic collaboration aimed at rapidly scaling unmanned maritime defense capabilities. The partnership will combine Saildrone’s established unmanned surface vessel platforms with Lockheed Martin’s combat-proven defense technologies and mission integration expertise. The objective is to deliver defense-ready USVs to operational fleets at an accelerated pace.
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| Surveyor-class unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). Credit: Saildrone |
The collaboration is structured to advance the Navy’s unmanned vision at scale. Work begins immediately with the integration of the JAGM Quad Launcher onto Saildrone’s Surveyor platform, followed by expansion to additional Lockheed Martin payloads across multiple USV classes. This initial step is intended to demonstrate how commercial-grade autonomous platforms can be transformed into multi-mission maritime assets capable of fleet defense, undersea surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike operations.
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| Successful First JAGM Quad Launcher Demonstration. Credit: Lockheed Martin |
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| Credit: Lockheed Martin |
Lockheed Martin and Saildrone have scheduled proof-of-concept demonstrations and live fire events for 2026. Development is already underway on larger Saildrone vehicles designed to accommodate significantly heavier payloads, including Lockheed Martin’s Mk70 Vertical Launch System and thin line towed arrays. These advancements are expected to broaden mission sets and enhance distributed maritime operations.
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| Mk70 VLS. Credit: Lockheed Martin |
The investment is positioned to reduce risk in the Navy’s path toward Distributed Maritime Operations and supports the service’s drive for affordable mass by 2027. The collaboration emphasizes an open-architecture approach and secure command-and-control framework, ensuring rapid integration while maintaining interoperability and security standards across platforms.
Saildrone’s USVs are engineered for endurance and autonomy, with a proven record of more than a decade operating in remote ocean environments. The platforms have collectively logged millions of nautical miles. First deployed by the U.S. Navy in 2021, Saildrone USVs remain operational today, conducting missions continuously alongside American sailors in combat theaters worldwide. Recent operational data highlights more than 130,000 nautical miles covered over 2,700 cumulative mission days, with 116,000 unique maritime contacts detected.
Saildrone manufactures three primary USV models tailored to specific mission requirements. The Explorer, Voyager, and Surveyor are each powered primarily by renewable wind and solar energy, enabling long-duration autonomous operations. The Explorer, at 23 feet, is optimized for environmental sensing, fisheries monitoring, and ecosystem research. The Voyager, a mid-size platform, is designed for coastal surveillance, border patrol, and mapping missions, offering enhanced capabilities compared to the Explorer. The Surveyor, at 72 feet, is the largest and most capable, built for deep-ocean mapping, undersea detection, and advanced ISR missions with capacity for heavy payloads.
All Saildrone USVs are equipped with advanced sensors including cameras, radar, and AIS receivers, supported by satellite communications such as Starlink, GPS navigation, and onboard computing systems for autonomous control. These technologies allow the vessels to operate for months or even a year with minimal human supervision.
The platforms provide a range of mission applications. They collect real-time atmospheric and oceanographic data, including carbon measurements, current tracking, and fish population monitoring. They conduct high-resolution seafloor mapping using multibeam sonar systems. They enhance maritime domain awareness by detecting illegal fishing activities and monitoring vessel traffic. They are capable of operating in extreme weather conditions, including hurricanes, to gather critical storm data. Their reliance on renewable energy sources ensures environmentally sustainable operations over extended durations.
Through this partnership, Lockheed Martin and Saildrone are aligning commercial innovation with defense requirements, creating scalable unmanned maritime solutions that support the Navy’s operational vision and strengthen distributed maritime capabilities for the future.
Written by Henry Wan
Henry Wan is an independent defense journalist with over 14 years of experience reporting on military affairs and security issues. He has covered defense strategies, military technology, and geopolitical developments with a consistent focus on accuracy, independence, and a comprehensive understanding of global security matters.