Saildrone launches the first unmanned surface vehicle

Saildrone has launched the first aluminum Surveyor unmanned surface vehicle (USV) off the Austal USA production line in Mobile, AL. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm.

Primarily designed for ocean mapping and maritime domain awareness, the Saildrone Surveyor USV is powered by wind, solar, and a diesel generator for long-range, long-endurance missions in the open ocean.

The Surveyor carries the latest multibeam sonar equipment for seafloor mapping to depths of 11,000 meters (36,000 feet) and purpose-built defense and security payloads for accurate, dynamic, and confident decisions and responses to the full spectrum of maritime threats and challenges. Upcoming Navy missions will focus on the ability of the Surveyor to deliver both surface and undersea intelligence for a range of high-priority applications, including anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

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