[
About Us
]

We Build Autonomous Systems for Maritime Intelligence

12+
YEARS OF OPERATIONS
2.5m
NAUTICAL MILES SAILED
65K
DAYS AT SEA

Saildrone unmanned surface vehicles deliver persistent data, surveillance, and seafloor insight from the world’s oceans—so customers can see, understand, and act faster.

Built for persistent maritime operations, delivering data, intelligence, and kinetic effects for strategic superiority

Saildrone provides unparalleled transparency and value to customers who need more information about the seabed, the environment, and maritime activities. Data is streamed from anywhere in the ocean directly into your critical workflows, enhancing situational awareness and understanding.

Saildrone’s products are powered by the most advanced unmanned surface vehicles, delivering observations and insights about activities above and below the ocean’s surface. Utilizing renewable wind and solar energy, these vehicles maintain a low operational carbon footprint while continuously feeding data in near real time, 24/7/365, to support more informed decision-making.

The company is headquartered in Alameda, CA, and backed by BOND, XN, Standard Investments, Emerson Collective, Crowley Maritime Corporation, Capricorn’s Technology Impact Fund, Lux Capital, Social Capital, Tribe Capital, The Schmidt Family Foundation, and Exor Seeds.

Modern unmanned Saildrone 4001 sailing on the ocean surface creating a small wake.
[
Our History
]

Proven Reliability& Scalability

Saildrone Spectre Silent Endurance and Stealth Strike
Design of Saildrone Spectre medium USV for intelligence and kinetic missions announced
2026
Saildrone Voyager with Danish flag on the wing
Saildrone expands to Europe with Copenhagen headquarters
2025
Two Saildrone Voyagers at sea during IMX 2025
Saildrone operates in GPS-denied environments in the Middle East
Saildrone Surveyor SD-3000 sails in Mobile Bay
First production Surveyor launched at Austal USA
2024
Saildrone fleet
First Class certificate issued for USV to Saildrone Voyager
2023
Saildrone fleet
Saildrone fleet surpasses 1,000,000 nm sailed and 32,000 days at sea
Saildrone fleet
Voyager introduced for defense and coastal mapping
Defense configured saildrone
US Navy integration
2022
Massive wave during a hurricane
World first video captured inside a Category 4 hurricane at sea
2021
Surveyor saildrone
Surveyor operational for deep ocean mapping
Saildrone with short hurricane wing
Modified wing introduced for extreme weather conditions
2020
Saildrones with Diamondhead in the background
Demonstration of MDA capabilities for US Coast Guard
Saildrone USV in the Solent
First USV to cross the Atlantic in both directions
2019
Multibeam integration discovers shipwreck in Gulf of Mexico
Saildrone in Southern Ocean
Saildrone completes first autonomous Antarctic circumnavigation
Saildrone Explorer with engine
Incorporation of engine, radar, and acoustics
2018
Saildrone mission tracks to equator
First annual mission to the equator for long-term weather forecasting
2017
Saildrone Explorer in stormy ocean conditions
Toughened for Arctic operations
2016
Climate quality data validation in Bering Sea
2015
Sensor integration with NOAA
2014
unmanned surface vehicle in ocean
Saildrone's first ocean crossing: proof of concept
2013
Greenbird land yacht in desert
Patented wing technology developed in pursuit of the world land speed record
2009
[
Executive Team
]

You’re in
Good Hands

Richard Jenkins
Founder & CEO
Bio
John Mustin
President
Bio
Tom Alexander
CGRO
Bio
Jen Betz
CFO
Bio
Robert Kleist
European Managing Director
Bio
[
Press
]

Saildrone in the Press

Axios
Defense & Security

Exclusive: Saildrone Is Building a 170-foot Unmanned Sub-hunter

Saildrone on Monday unveiled Spectre, a 170-foot unmanned surface vessel the company says is optimized for anti-submarine warfare, far-flung surveillance, and missile launches.

Breaking Defense
Technology

Lockheed Martin to Invest $50M into Saildrone, Plans to Equip USVs with Missile Launchers

Lockheed Martin plans to invest $50 million into California-based maritime drone manufacturer Saildrone, with the goal of equipping Lockheed’s air-to-ground missile launchers onto a Saildrone unmanned surface vessel, the companies announced today.

Proceedings
Defense & Security

Develop the Hybrid Fleet in Southcom

As the Navy develops and fields medium and large unmanned surface vessels and unmanned surface and airborne ISR platforms, SouthCom is a logical and advantageous theater in which to operate them as soon as they are ready.

Sea Technology
Ocean Mapping

Remote Ocean Mapping Evolves with USVs

At the forefront of USV innovation is Saildrone, a company that began with a vision of sustainable maritime data collection and has since become one of the world’s premier providers of autonomous ocean mapping vehicles.

Tectonic Defense
Defense & Security

Saildrone Scores $37M BPA with USCG

The blanket purchase agreement, signed by the Department of Homeland Security, is aimed at providing maritime domain awareness for safety of life at sea in international and U.S. coastal waters.

Marine Technology News
Defense & Security

Saildrone: USVs Keep an Eye on the Ocean

Brian Connon, VP Ocean Mapping at Saildrone shares insights into the three classes of USV. Challenging maritime security needs and the race to map the seabed stand out as key market drivers. Connon also sheds light on recent projects and the future of the company and its tech.

Man with beard in a Saildrone t-shirt engaged in a focused activity indoors with another person.

Join Our Dynamic Team Today

Explore exciting career opportunities with Saildrone.

Available Jobs