Lockheed Martin and Saildrone Demonstrate Launch from USV Platform

BETHESDA, Md., August 20, 2026. Lockheed Martin and Saildrone launched two rounds from a Surveyor class Saildrone integrated with a Joint-Air-to-Ground (JAGM) Dual Launcher and Adjunct Remote Engagement System (ARES) fire control C2. In coordination with the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) Carrier Strike Group and enabled by the Navy’s ARES—a remotely operated combat system—the Saildrone Surveyor demonstrated its interoperability by acting on target data for a surrogate high-speed surface craft. The demonstration went from concept to demonstration in six months in partnership with the United States Navy, proving the team’s ability to quickly integrate established capabilities onto commercial USVs.

During this multi-domain event, the team also demonstrated a passive electronic warfare (EW) capability from the Saildrone Surveyor, successfully detecting, classifying, and identifying a surrogate threat radar system in conjunction with an MH-60S helicopter. 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 deliver commercial USVs equipped with lethal, combat proven defense technology. This is the first of several tests planned aboard Saildrone platforms integrated with Navy combat systems, including the new Spectre-class, designed to support significantly larger containerized capabilities including the Lockheed Martin Mk 70 launcher and SURTASS Towed Array. Lockheed Martin and Saildrone are committed to working with the U.S. Navy and our allies to deliver proven capabilities at speed into the hands of our warfighters.

Why It Matters

• Fast Fielding of Commercial Technology for Defense: Saildrone USVs have been accomplishing complex maritime missions in remote ocean areas since 2013. The Lockheed Martin and Saildrone relationship will harness Saildrone’s decade-plus of commercial expertise to quickly field new defense applications.
• Investing to Accelerate Capability: Lockheed Martin and Saildrone are investing to accelerate and de-risk deployment of urgently needed unmanned and autonomous naval technologies.
• Ready Now: Lockheed Martin is demonstrating the integration of ready-now, proven capabilities with Saildrone USVs to get unmatched lethality into the hands of warfighters as soon as possible.
• JAGM Capability Paired with C-UAS Precision: With its dual mode seeker (SAL+ MMW) delivering all weather C UAS capability, JAGM has proven consistent performance with high reliability across air, maritime and ground domains under real world conditions.

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. 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,” said Richard Jenkins, Founder and CEO, Saildrone