US Navy Live-Fire Tests Drone Sailboat With Missile Launcher
The live-fire test showed a commercial unmanned vessel can launch and guide a missile against a surrogate surface target, the companies said.
- During the RIMPAC 2026 exercise off Hawaii, a Surveyor-class Saildrone unmanned surface vessel launched two Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles, engaging a surrogate high-speed surface craft while operating alongside the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group.
- Lockheed Martin and Saildrone completed the system's transition from concept to live demonstration in six months, accelerated by a $50 million investment in October 2025 to adapt commercial platforms for military use.
- The Surveyor-class vessel integrated the JAGM Dual Launcher and Adjunct Remote Engagement System fire-control system, while performing passive electronic-warfare detection in coordination with an MH-60S helicopter.
- Saildrone CEO Richard Jenkins noted the demonstration paired "tried and trusted munitions" with an established USV platform, reducing integration risk while leveraging the company's autonomous operations experience since 2013.
- Partners plan to test additional capabilities on the larger Spectre-class vessel, designed to carry containerized systems including the Mk 70 launcher and SURTASS towed-array technology.
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The U.S. has introduced a new steering missile. The AIM-424 "Malice" is intended to reach enemy targets from a very long distance.
US Navy unveils AIM-424 Malice long-range missile for F-35C
The US Navy published official specifications for the AIM-424 Long Range Air-to-Air Missile (LRAAM) on August 22, 2026, providing the first detailed public account of a Raytheon weapon credited with a range exceeding 250 nautical miles (463 kilometers). The fact file names the missile Malice and lists a length of 13.5 feet (4.11 meters), a diameter of 13.5 inches (0.34 meters) and a wingspan of 26.2 inches (0.67 meters). It gives a weight of 1,…
With the AIM-424 "Malice", the US Navy presents an air-air missile of superlatives. It is directed against a concrete opponent.
The US Navy unveiled a new long-range air-to-air missile called the AIM-424 Malice. It fits in the F-35C's internal weapon bay, maintains a stealth profile, and offers a range of over 463 kilometers.
The US Navy has detected a test of a new Jo-Jo rocket that can hit targets more than 290 miles (465 km), far beyond the range of any other known weapon of this kind. According to the US Navy, the AIM-424 Males, developed by RTX's Raytheon, has nearly similar dimensions to the current generation of the AIM-120 mm rocket currently in use, according to the Sunday news agency Bloomberg.
US Navy Unveils Advanced Air-to-Air Missile With 300-Mile Range
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