Saildrone, a company specializing in unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), today released the design of the Saildrone Spectre.
At 52 meters (170 feet) long, weighing 250 tons and capable of up to 30 knots, Spectre is the largest, fastest and most capable Saildrone platform to date. Spectre is optimized for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations, a mission set that demands extreme endurance and an ultra-quiet acoustic signature.
“Spectre is the result of 25 years of continually pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. A unique design evolved through the hard lessons of operational experience in the real world,” said Saildrone CEO Richard Jenkins in a statement. “Spectre is not a craft hurriedly readied to meet a particular RFP, but diligently evolved over multiple years to meet the operational requirements of our customers and fill critical capability gaps in the ASW domain.”
Like the Saildrone Voyager and Surveyor, Spectre uses wind, solar, and diesel propulsion. It runs twin shaftlines with dual electric and diesel propulsion, enabling near-silent electric propulsion up to 12 knots, before kicking in 5,000 horsepower of Caterpillar diesel engines to propel the vessel up to 27 knots with full fuel and a 25,000 kg payload.
Cruising at 25 knots with a 25,000 kg payload, Spectre has a range of 3,280 nautical miles in flat water and 2,790 nm range in Sea State 4 head sea. Controllable-pitch propellers enable extremely efficient operations throughout the speed range, allowing for controllable acoustic signatures and near-silent slow-speed operations for tow bodies such as thin-line towed arrays and variable-depth sonar systems.
The concealed payload deck provides room for containerized payloads, ranging from dual 40-foot containers, up to five 20-foot containers, or a mixture of configurations in between. This unique configuration, close to the waterline, allows easy deployment of payloads via the transom, while the bulwarks protect them from prying eyes and the driving sea spray that will be relentless at high speeds in rough weather. Spectre’s maximum payload capacity is over 70 tonnes.
The Spectre design has been approved in principle (AIP) by ABS, complying with the High Speed Naval Craft class certification. Two years of design and testing have entirely de-risked the Spectre design and performance. Coupled with Saildrone’s proven C2, systems control, and mission autonomy, Spectre provides a compelling turnkey and near-term solution for many critical requirements for the US and allied navies.
Spectre is constructed from aluminum and will be built in Wisconsin at the Fincantieri system of shipyards, which has the capacity to manufacture five Spectre vessels per year. Construction will begin shortly, with the first vessel undergoing sea trials in early 2027.
The 43-meter (140-foot) composite Saildrone Wing will be manufactured by American Magic Services (AMS) at the American Magic High Performance Center in Pensacola, FL. Drawing on a pedigree in high-performance America’s Cup racing, AMS brings advanced composite engineering and manufacturing capabilities to the platform. Building on its experience serving the marine, aerospace, and defense industries, AMS is capable of producing five Spectre wings per year.
Working with Lockheed Martin, Saildrone has ensured Spectre design compatibility with a wide range of Lockheed Martin payloads, including thin-line towed arrays such as the TB29 and the Mk70 VLS Launcher. Spectre can carry two Mk70s and is capable of deploying the CAPTAS-4 variable-depth sonar system from Thales/AAC.
