Advanced Positioning System to Enable USV Operations in the Middle East

Saildrone has developed and tested an advanced positioning system that enables unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) to operate autonomously in GPS-denied or spoofed maritime environments.

Saildrone’s innovative solution leverages multiple forms of localization to ensure seamless operation without relying exclusively on satellite systems. This allows operations to continue in contested environments.

This new capability was showcased during the International Maritime Exercise (IMX) 2025, where Saildrone demonstrated its ability to provide persistent surveillance and navigate in a GPS-denied environment. IMX 2025, which brought together 5,000 personnel from over 30 nations and international organizations to focus on harbor security, mine countermeasures, and unmanned systems artificial intelligence integration, provided an opportunity to demonstrate Saildrone’s continued ability to adapt to Navy needs.

Now, Saildrone is actively conducting wide-area surveillance in the US Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility, enhancing maritime domain awareness and supporting US Navy operations. US forces have been engaged in the region supporting Operation Prosperity Guardian since December 2023, safeguarding commercial shipping and countering regional threats.

Saildrone: A Proven Asset in US Fifth Fleet

The US Navy established Task Force 59 in 2021 as part of the US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and US Fifth Fleet to advance the operational employment of unmanned systems and artificial intelligence in fleet operations. Saildrone kicked off operations in the region with US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT)’s exercise Digital Horizon. Saildrone has since operated with other unmanned platforms, with a single manned ship, and in larger ship formations.

The Saildrone fleet participated in the International Maritime Exercise/Cutlass Express (IMX/CE) 2022 exercise. During that 18-day event, International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) personnel operated two saildrones to work through unmanned systems and artificial intelligence integration.

IMSC staff continued to work with the saildrones during their operations throughout the Middle East. In August 2022, they designed a Sentinel Shield exercise around unmanned integration, teaming the saildrones with Royal Bahrain Naval Force ship RBNS Ahmed Al-Fateh (P20) and US Coast Guard patrol boat USCGC Baranof (WPB 1318). In January 2023, the Saildrone participated in another Sentinel Shield event operating in conjunction with US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119).

Expanding Global Navy Operations

Saildrone first entered US Fourth Fleet operations in 2023 with Operation Wind Stack, laying the foundation for integrating unmanned systems directly into the fleet Maritime Operations Center (MOC). That success paved the way for Operation Southern Spear, which has now doubled the USV fleet under Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S) and stands as the largest operational deployment of unmanned surface vehicles in history.

These USVs are actively securing the southern maritime approaches, supporting the President’s call for enhanced border defense, and demonstrating the critical role of autonomous systems in national security.

In its fourth year of operations with the US Navy, Saildrone is actively deployed across the Middle East, Atlantic, Caribbean, and Pacific, delivering critical ISR and ocean mapping for the United States and its allies.

A new partnership with Palantir is set to accelerate the development and deployment of AI-driven maritime solutions at scale.

Richard Jenkins, Founder and CEO at Saildrone, commented, “Satellite positioning and connectivity can no longer be relied upon in potential future conflicts. It is essential that our unmanned systems can continue to operate in denied environments and Saildrone once again leads the way with demonstrated resilience in real operational missions with US Navy.”