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Metocean Survey
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Persistent Environmental Intelligence for Mission Planning and Fleet Operations

Autonomous systems engineered to collect high-quality meteorological and oceanographic data—delivering the environmental intelligence needed to plan, position, and operate with confidence across the battlespace.

Saildrone provides real-time METOC observations using extreme-endurance unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) equipped with advanced sensors for atmospheric and oceanographic measurements. Operating for months at a time, Saildrone systems fill critical data gaps that impede forecasting accuracy, platform performance, and operational decision-making in contested and data-sparse regions.

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WHAT SAILDRONE DELIVERS
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Mission‑ready Solutions for Environmental Awareness

Saildrone provides comprehensive METOC observations across the atmosphere and upper ocean, supporting oceanographic research and defense missions that require environmental and situational awareness. Designed for long endurance in the harshest conditions, Saildrone platforms operate safely through extreme conditions and in regions where conventional observing systems are limited.

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Real-time atmospheric variables, including wind, pressure, humidity, and air temperature

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Oceanographic measurements including SST, salinity, dissolved oxygen, CO₂ flux, waves, and surface currents

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Real-time observations inside hurricanes, winter storms, and other extreme events

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Wide-area, long-duration, autonomous data collection

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Continuous data streams optimized for assimilation into Navy METOC models and operational decision aids

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Sensor & Data Architecture
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Integrated Atmospheric and Oceanographic Measurement Systems

Saildrone USVs carry a standardized suite of METOC sensors combined with precision autonomous navigation and onboard automation. These systems operate continuously to deliver high-quality atmospheric and oceanic observations.

Atmospheric Sensors

Wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, humidity, air temperature, CO₂ concentrations, and other key variables for weather and climate applications.

Oceanographic Sensors

Sea-surface temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, pH, CO₂ flux, wave height and direction, and subsurface profiles via CTD systems.

Extreme Weather Resilience

Proven performance inside hurricanes, winter storms, and high-sea-state conditions—collecting data when satellites and aircraft face limits.

Autonomous Navigation & Station-keeping

Line transects, adaptive routing, and fixed-point missions are executed autonomously without human steering.

Data Delivery

Near-real-time data transmitted through encrypted links to Saildrone Mission Portal or direct integration via API into NOAA or defense METOC systems.

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Why Saildrone
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Operationally Proven in High‑risk Environments

Endurance without refueling

Wind and solar power support months-long missions, enabling sustained observations across ocean basins.

Operational resilience

Saildrone platforms operate in regions that challenge crewed assets—from tropical cyclones to Arctic storms to contested waters.

Data Where the Fleet Needs It

Saildrone fills priority gaps in ocean basins, straits, chokepoints, and approach routes central to Navy and oceanographic operations.

Environmental intelligence for multi-domain operations

Real-time METOC insights strengthen maritime security, enhance ISR, and support fleet decision superiority.

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Recent missions
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Demonstrated Impact in Real‑world Missions

For over a decade, Saildrone systems have delivered METOC intelligence globally, including hurricane penetrations, basin-scale ocean observations, and environmental characterization missions that support operational planning and Fleet METOC requirements.

Tracking Alaska Red King Crab with USVs

Tracking seasonal movements of Alaska red king crab using a Saildrone USV equipped with an acoustic receiver.

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Number of crabs located

3,500 nm

Distance traveled

Improving Prediction of El Niño Weather Events in the Pacific Ocean

Integrating the Saildrone platform as part of the Tropical Pacific Observation System to monitor weather and climate in the Pacific Ocean.

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Saildrone Explorers

165,264

Nautical miles sailed

8 years

Ongoing operations

Studying Cloud Circulation in the Tropical Atlantic

A massive international effort using air, space, surface, and sub-surface platforms to improve climate models and weather prediction.

6 months

At sea

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Saildrone Explorers

35,000 nm

Distance traveled

Tracking Vulnerable Apex Predators

Augmenting ship-based operations to understand why great white sharks swim more than 1,100 nm each year to an ocean desert in the North Pacific.

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Saildrone Explorers

1 month

At Sea

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Research Institutions

Enhancing European Ocean Observations & Forecasting

370 days at sea collecting CO2 data in a remote area of the Tropical Atlantic to improve global carbon projections and more sustainably manage ocean resources.

370

Days at sea

11,910 nm

Total distance sailed

0

Amount of CO2 emitted