Lockheed Martin and Saildrone test missiles from unmanned vessel

Lockheed Martin and Saildrone have successfully demonstrated the first missile launch from a Saildrone Surveyor unmanned surface vessel (USV). During the US Navy’s Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise near Hawaii, the 20-meter Surveyor platform launched two AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles (JAGM).

The demonstration, conducted under the Navy’s Fleet Experimentation Program (FLEX), showcased the integration of commercially developed autonomous maritime platforms with operational weapon systems. The Surveyor operated in coordination with the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) Carrier Strike Group, utilizing the Navy’s Adjunct Remote Engagement System (ARES) to process targeting data from a surrogate high-speed surface craft.

In addition to the kinetic missile tests, the Surveyor demonstrated passive electronic warfare capabilities by working with an MH-60S helicopter to detect, classify, and identify a simulated threat radar system. The project is the result of a six-month collaborative development effort between Lockheed Martin and Saildrone that moved from the concept phase to demonstration in a rapid timeframe.