Saildrone completes NATO multi-domain demo in Baltic Sea - The Robot Report

Saildrone Inc., a maritime autonomy developer, successfully completed its participation in NATO Task Force X’s multi-domain demonstration in the Baltic Sea, showcasing the capabilities of its Saildrone Voyager uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs). Operating from June 16 to 27, four Voyagers conducted persistent 24/7 wide-area surveillance and real-time maritime domain awareness in the Gulf of Finland and western Baltic Sea, despite challenging conditions including near-gale winds and rough seas. The USVs detected and tracked hundreds of vessels daily, identified exercise “red forces,” and located real-world “dark targets” such as Russian shadow fleet and military vessels. This deployment highlighted the Voyagers’ ability to integrate long-range radar surveillance with rapid-response unmanned maritime assets. The demonstration was part of NATO’s Dynamic Messenger innovation pathway, aiming to enhance NATO’s rapid integration of commercial off-the-shelf autonomous systems while preserving crewed assets for critical missions. Saildrone operates on a contractor-owned and operated model,