Saildrone to produce ocean drones in Europe

Lockheed Martin

18/08/2026 07:00

By Soren Jeppesen
COPENHAGEN, Aug 18 (Reuters) - U.S.-based Saildrone said on Tuesday it has signed deals to produce unmanned vessels in the Netherlands, Norway and Poland, as the sea drone maker expands its European capacity to meet growing demand for maritime defence and surveillance technology.
European NATO members are boosting defence investment both to improve deterrence and defence against Russia and to demonstrate to U.S. President Donald Trump that they are taking his demands for burden-shifting within the alliance seriously.
"Bringing Saildrone manufacturing and operations to Europe creates an enduring sovereign capability for our European customers," Saildrone Europe managing director Robert Kleist said in a statement.
The new contracts will boost Saildrone's capacity to build, deploy, operate and support its unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) for European customers, the company said.
Van Der Valk Shipyard in the Netherlands will produce Saildrone's largest USV, the 52-metre-long (171 feet) Spectre.
The Spectre is built to carry heavier sensors, sonar and, increasingly, weapons systems for military customers.
Saildrone's 20-meter Surveyor surveillance drones will be produced at Umoe Mandal in Norway, while Southern Spars will manufacture wings for Surveyor in Poland.
The European push builds on a $50 million investment from Lockheed Martin LMT.N in October to equip Saildrone's Surveyor with missiles, the first time the autonomous ships would carry high-powered weapons.
Saildrone established its European subsidiary in April 2025 with a $60 million funding round led by Denmark's state Export and Investment Fund EIFO.
The company on Tuesday opened its European headquarters in Copenhagen.

 (Reporting by Soren Jeppesen, editing by Louise Rasmussen and Terje Solsvik)
 ((soren.jeppesen@thomsonreuters.com; Mobile: +45 2332 5113))