Lockheed Martin has announced a $50 million strategic investment in Saildrone, a leading developer of autonomous maritime systems, to accelerate the deployment of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) equipped with combat-proven defense technologies for the U.S. Navy.
Strategic Collaboration for Future Naval Warfare
Under the new partnership, Lockheed Martin and Saildrone will integrate advanced defense payloads onto Saildrone’s autonomous platforms, with live-fire demonstrations planned for 2026. The collaboration seeks to align with the U.S. Navy’s long-term USV modernization vision, supporting missions such as fleet defense, undersea surveillance, reconnaissance, and precision strike operations.
The first integration effort will focus on Lockheed Martin’s JAGM Quad Launcher (JQL) system, mounted on the Saildrone Surveyor platform. Future variants will accommodate Mk70 Vertical Launch Systems (VLS) and thin-line towed sonar arrays to expand operational versatility.
Statements from Industry Leaders
Stephanie C. Hill, President of Rotary and Mission Systems at Lockheed Martin, emphasized that the partnership answers President Donald Trump’s renewed call for defense innovation through commercial collaboration:
“Together, we are combining the most sophisticated commercial and defense technologies to deliver a lethal naval solution at speed and scale. The nation needs this capability to maintain dominance over our adversaries, and we will deliver it.”
Richard Jenkins, Founder and CEO of Saildrone, highlighted the readiness of Saildrone’s platforms after years of operational testing:
“With our technology proven and de-risked, now is the right time to augment Saildrone USVs with sophisticated payloads to meet warfighter needs — from electronic and anti-submarine warfare to kinetic operations.”
Accelerating Fielding and Industrial Growth
Saildrone’s USVs have supported U.S. Navy operations since 2021, conducting persistent maritime missions across global waters. Under this new framework, Saildrone will retain shipbuilding responsibilities, while Lockheed Martin serves as lead mission integrator — ensuring secure command, control, and weapon integration.
The initiative will also boost the U.S. maritime industrial base, with production centered at Austal USA and scalable to additional shipyards nationwide. The project is expected to generate high-skilled jobs and strengthen the domestic defense supply chain.
Rapid Innovation and Integration
Lockheed Martin’s investment aims to fast-track the integration of autonomous systems across multiple naval platforms. Both companies are establishing a joint systems integration team to accelerate the manufacturing of larger USVs and onboard proven Lockheed Martin mission systems for fully autonomous operations.
Key Takeaways
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Investment Value: $50 million
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Partners: Lockheed Martin & Saildrone
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Focus Areas: Unmanned surface warfare, autonomy, reconnaissance, and undersea surveillance
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Timeline: On-water and live-fire demonstrations in 2026
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Industrial Impact: Expansion of U.S. shipbuilding and defense manufacturing base
