A side-by-side of a Saildrone vessel and a Lockheed Martin missile launcher. Saildrone and Lockheed image
Lockheed to invest $50M in maritime drone maker
Saildrone is designing a larger-class vessel for the future demonstration of a combined capability.
Lockheed Marin has agreed to invest $50 million in Saildrone, a maritime drone manufacturer, with the goal of integrating vessels and missile launch systems into a combined offering for live fire demonstrations in 2026.
Saildrone was founded in 2012 by CEO Richard Jenkins and is entering this partnership following its closure of a $60 million investment round in the spring, which was led by Denmark’s national export and investment fund called EIFO.
In 2020, Saildrone participated in the RIMPAC international maritime exercise and secured its first demonstration contract with the Coast Guard. Saildrone booked more contracts with U.S. government agencies in 2021, when it also started working with the Navy’s Task Force 59 unit focused on unmanned systems.
For its pact with Lockheed, Saildrone will supply an unmanned surface vessel to be equipped with the defense giant’s Quad Launcher system for launching air-to-ground missiles.
“Together, we are combining the most sophisticated commercial and defense technologies to deliver a lethal naval solution at speed and scale,” Stephanie Hill, president of Lockheed’s rotary and mission systems segment, said in a release.
“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,” Jenkins added. This collaboration will give Saildrone the tools we need to transform the capabilities of our platforms, to include electronic warfare, anti-submarine warfare, sophisticated surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as deploying kinetic effects, all seamlessly integrated with Lockheed Martin’s trusted command, control and fire control systems.”
In a message on the Lockheed partnership, Jenkins wrote that Saildrone is designing a larger-class vessel for the collaboration with plans to start construction on it in the first quarter of 2026 at an Austal USA shipyard.
Saildrone has also set up its leadership team with key hires over the years as a way to bolster its posture for defense work.
John Mustin, a retired vice admiral and former chief of Navy reserve, joined as president in April to work alongside Jenkins on the company’s strategy. Mike Mullen, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, became chairman of Saildrone’s board of directors in 2023.