Saildrone Partners With Austal USA To Build Hi- Tech Unmanned Vessels
Here is a great article from The Alabama News Center
A cutting-edge marine vessel that can sail the high seas without a crew will be manufactured exclusively in Mobile through a partnership between Austal USA and California-based Saildrone Inc.
The two companies on Tuesday announced their strategic partnership in connection with the Saildrone Surveyor autonomous “uncrewed” surface vehicle.
The partnership “combines Saildrone’s … technology with Austal USA’s advanced manufacturing capabilities,” according to a news release issued by the companies. The companies said the partnership will provide the U.S. Navy and other government agency customers “a cutting-edge solution for maritime domain awareness, hydrographic survey and other missions requiring persistent wide area coverage.”
According to the news release, the partnership will help meet rapidly growing demand for Saildrone Surveyors. The 65-foot Surveyor is designed specifically for deep-ocean mapping and “Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) applications,” both above and below the surface. All Saildrone vehicles are autonomous and uncrewed, providing “extreme endurance, reliability and cost-effective operations,” the companies said.
