Lockheed Martin and Saildrone have demonstrated the launch of two rounds from a Surveyor-class Saildrone integrated with a Joint-Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) Dual Launcher and Adjunct Remote Engagement System (ARES) fire control and command-and-control system.
In coordination with the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) Carrier Strike Group and enabled by the Navy’s ARES remotely operated combat system, the Saildrone Surveyor demonstrated interoperability by acting on target data for a surrogate high-speed surface craft.
The demonstration progressed from concept to live demonstration in six months through a partnership with the United States Navy, demonstrating the team’s ability to rapidly integrate established capabilities onto commercial unmanned surface vessels (USVs).
During the multi-domain event, the team also demonstrated a passive electronic warfare (EW) capability from the Saildrone Surveyor. Working in conjunction with an MH-60S helicopter, the system successfully detected, classified and identified a surrogate threat radar system.
The live-fire demonstration took place near Hawaii under the sponsorship of the U.S. Navy Fleet Experimentation Program (FLEX) during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026, the world’s largest international naval exercise.
The Big Picture
Lockheed Martin partnered with Saildrone to equip commercial USVs with combat-proven defence technology. The demonstration is the first of several planned tests aboard Saildrone platforms integrated with Navy combat systems.
These include the new Spectre-class platform, which is designed to support significantly larger containerized capabilities, including the Lockheed Martin Mk 70 launcher and SURTASS Towed Array.
Lockheed Martin and Saildrone are working with the U.S. Navy and its allies to deliver established capabilities at speed through unmanned platforms.
Why It Matters
Saildrone USVs have been conducting complex maritime missions in remote ocean areas since 2013. The Lockheed Martin and Saildrone partnership aims to use the company’s more than a decade of commercial experience to rapidly develop and field new defence applications.
The companies are also investing in technologies intended to accelerate and reduce the risks associated with deploying unmanned and autonomous naval capabilities.
The demonstration focused on integrating established capabilities with Saildrone USVs to support rapid deployment of defence technologies.
The JAGM capability uses a dual-mode seeker to provide precision engagement capabilities across air, maritime and ground domains, with the demonstration pairing the missile system with a Saildrone unmanned surface vessel.
Expert Perspectives
“Lockheed Martin and Saildrone are leading the way to leverage the strength of industry to deliver autonomous platforms with containerized capabilities for our national defense. We will continue to invest in new capabilities ahead of need to accelerate and de-risk deployment of urgently needed defense technologies,” said Paul Lemmo, Vice President and General Manager, Sensors, Effectors and Mission Systems, Lockheed Martin.
“This successful live fire demonstration was the result of pairing one of the most tried and trusted munitions with the most operationally deployed class of USV on the planet,” said Richard Jenkins, Founder and CEO of Saildrone. “Not only does this deliver mission-ready, kinetic USV capability today, but it also de-risks and accelerates our journey of fitting more sophisticated kinetic capabilities, like the Mk70 launcher, to our larger platform, the Saildrone Spectre. Saildrone will continue to develop our platform capabilities to meet the rapidly evolving operational requirements of our customers.”
