Lockheed Martin Invests $50 Million in Saildrone to Equip Autonomous Vessels with Lethal Defense Capabilities for the U.S. Navy

In a strategic step redefining the future of naval autonomy and defense integration, Lockheed Martin has announced a $50 million investment in Saildrone, the California-based pioneer of long-endurance unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). The deal, revealed on October 29, 2025, aims to accelerate the integration of advanced defense systems into Saildrone’s autonomous vessels—ushering in a new generation of lethal, combat-ready USVs aligned with the U.S. Navy’s vision for distributed, unmanned maritime operations.

Why This Matters

This partnership merges Saildrone’s proven endurance and autonomy—having logged over 2 million nautical miles—with Lockheed Martin’s cutting-edge weapon systems and secure command-and-control (C2) technologies. Saildrone’s platforms, operational in commercial, scientific, and defense contexts since 2013 (and deployed by the U.S. Navy since 2021), will now evolve from observation to action—fielding lethal military capabilities that extend the Navy’s reach and resilience.

The collaboration prioritizes rapid fielding, with live-fire demonstrations planned for 2026. Both companies will use an open-architecture integration model, enabling modular weapon and sensor systems to be upgraded at speed as technology advances.

A New Chapter for Saildrone

Founded in 2012, Saildrone established itself as a global leader in autonomous maritime data collection, using sail- and solar-powered vessels to explore and monitor the world’s oceans. Its platforms have survived hurricanes, polar ice, and extended missions lasting months without human intervention. That same endurance is now being reimagined for national defense.

“With our technology proven, de-risked, and mission-ready, now is the right time to augment Saildrone USVs with sophisticated payloads to meet warfighter needs,” said Richard Jenkins, founder and CEO of Saildrone. “This collaboration will give us the tools we need to transform the capabilities of our platforms—from electronic and anti-submarine warfare to reconnaissance and kinetic effects—all seamlessly integrated with Lockheed Martin’s trusted systems.”

By leveraging its proven reliability and cost-effective scalability, Saildrone provides the Navy with an attritable, persistent presence across vast maritime domains—ideal for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and future strike missions.

Lockheed Martin’s Strategic Role

Lockheed Martin will serve as lead mission integrator, combining Saildrone’s autonomous endurance with decades of defense innovation. The company will integrate field-proven technologies such as the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) Quad Launcher in the program’s first phase, followed by larger payloads like the Mk70 Vertical Launch System in later iterations.

“Lockheed Martin and Saildrone are leading the way to answer President Trump’s call for the defense industry to act differently and leverage the strength of all of industry for our national defense,” said Stephanie C. Hill, President of Rotary and Mission Systems at Lockheed Martin. “Together, we’re delivering a lethal naval solution at speed and scale—the nation needs this capability to maintain dominance over our adversaries.”

Next-Generation Maritime Autonomy

The immediate focus is integrating the JAGM Quad Launcher onto the Saildrone Surveyor, creating a remotely operated platform capable of precision strikes. Future variants will scale up to accommodate heavier payloads and complex mission profiles, including towed sonar arrays for anti-submarine warfare, electronic warfare systems, and advanced surveillance sensors.

Saildrone will continue to handle all shipbuilding responsibilities, while Lockheed Martin oversees mission integration and weapons deployment. The initiative will also create new jobs at Austal USA on the Gulf Coast, with potential for expansion across America’s broader shipbuilding industrial base.

Strategic Implications

This partnership represents more than a financial investment—it’s a restructuring of how maritime power is built and deployed. By blending Saildrone’s rapid commercial development model with Lockheed Martin’s defense-grade precision, the companies aim to shorten acquisition timelines, lower operational risk, and deliver deployable systems faster than traditional procurement cycles allow.

For the U.S. Navy, the collaboration supports its push toward a hybrid fleet—a mix of manned and unmanned vessels designed to enhance flexibility, reduce crew exposure, and provide persistent coverage across contested regions.

Broader Industry Impact

The Lockheed–Saildrone alliance reflects a growing trend: the convergence of commercial autonomy and military lethality. Technologies once designed for ocean research are now being refitted for deterrence and combat. This commercial-defense overlap accelerates innovation cycles, bringing battlefield-ready systems to the water faster than conventional military programs.

By harnessing Saildrone’s proven ocean endurance and Lockheed Martin’s unmatched systems integration, the collaboration promises to push the boundaries of autonomous naval warfare—where intelligence, endurance, and precision strike capability operate seamlessly without human presence on board.

Looking Ahead

The first live-fire demonstration in 2026 will serve as a key milestone, offering a glimpse into how autonomy and lethality will coexist within the next era of naval operations. As Saildrone develops larger platforms and Lockheed continues to refine AI-driven targeting and control systems, the stage is set for a fundamentally new kind of fleet—one that is distributed, intelligent, and always on station.

With this $50 million investment, Lockheed Martin and Saildrone are not merely building unmanned ships—they are engineering the blueprint for tomorrow’s naval dominance, where persistence, precision, and autonomy define the battlefield at sea.