Saildrone Operates in Arabian Gulf for Expanded NAVCENT Unmanned Integration

A Saildrone Explorer began operations in the Arabian Gulf on January 27, as part of the US 5th Fleet’s expanded integration of new unmanned systems. 

Task Force 59, the US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT)’s dedicated staff for new unmanned systems and artificial intelligence discovery, initiated the operational testing of the Saildrone USV off the coast of Bahrain one month after launching an Explorer in the Gulf of Aqaba.

“The initial Saildrone assessment phase at sea in the Gulf of Aqaba has exceeded our expectations,” said Cmdr. Thomas McAndrew, the task force’s deputy commander. “We are applying the results and rapidly expanding operations.”

The Saildrone launched in the Gulf of Aqaba on December 12 and successfully operated at sea continuously for more than 30 days, demonstrating persistence in a dynamic maritime environment.

The Saildrone Explorer is 23 feet long with a wing that stands 16 feet tall. Saildrone USVs use wind power for propulsion. The vehicle carries a suite of environmental and awareness sensors powered by solar energy to build a comprehensive picture of the surrounding seas.

Saildrone was one of several platforms Task Force 59 has since commenced at-sea evaluations for off the coast of Bahrain before International Maritime Exercise (IMX) 2022 in February. IMX is slated to include unmanned systems from partner nations, which will make it the largest unmanned exercise in the world.

“The interest and support from our partners has grown exponentially as we collectively learn from operational testing,” said McAndrew. “We are mutually benefiting from these systems, and the creativity and new use cases can only come from our experience in the water.”

Ongoing evaluations of unmanned systems like Saildrone in US 5th Fleet help drive discovery, innovation, and fleet integration. These tests provide important information to the Navy that will inform future operational employment.

The Middle East region’s unique geography, climate, and strategic importance offer an ideal environment for unmanned innovation through multilateral collaboration. The area includes the world's largest standing maritime partnership, the Combined Maritime Forces, as well as key waterways vital to global commerce.