Saildrone expands fleet with mid-sized USV

Saildrone, a US specialist in delivering near real-time maritime intelligence through small uncrewed systems, has announced the expansion of its fleet with a new mid-size class of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs).

The latest addition, the 33-foot (10m) Voyager, has been specifically designed to excel in near-shore ocean and lakebed mapping, as well as addressing crucial challenges such as illegal fishing, maritime safety, intelligence gathering, law enforcement, drug interdiction, and border and port security.

Voyager joins Saildrone’s existing lineup of USVs, which includes the 23-foot (7m) Explorer and the 65-foot (20m) Surveyor. Each model has been carefully crafted to strike a balance between mission payload flexibility and endurance. With its larger size, Voyager boasts advantages such as an extended datalink, increased power for ocean mapping and intelligence payloads, and enhanced versatility for integrating various types of equipment.

Equipped with advanced ocean mapping sensors, Voyager incorporates multibeam sonar equipment capable of mapping depths up to 900 feet (300m). Additionally, its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) sensor suite includes a smart camera array, digital radar and sub-surface passive acoustics. Powered primarily by wind and solar energy, Voyager also features an electric propulsion alternative, ideal for low-wind and near-shore operations.

Richard Jenkins, founder and CEO of Saildrone, highlighted the impact of the Voyager platform on maritime capabilities.

“With our Voyager platform, Saildrone helps to eliminate maritime gaps above and below the ocean surface, reducing risk to mission and risk to force,” he said. “We want to be a force-multiplier for our partners and allies when it comes to ISR capabilities.”

To keep up with increasing demand for the Voyager platform, Saildrone has opted to outsource the production of certain components. The wing and keel will be manufactured by Janicki Industries in Washington, while the hull will be produced by Seemann Composites in Mississippi. Saildrone will continue to handle the production, installation, and servicing of internal components at its headquarters in Alameda, CA.

Having conducted sea trials in the San Francisco Bay and off the coast of California since late 2022, Voyager is now ready for operational missions. These missions will encompass both maritime security and ocean mapping tasks.

Saildrone currently produces new Voyagers at a rate of one per week.