US Navy launches missiles from unmanned drone boat in RIMPAC exercise

The US Navy, Lockheed Martin, and Saildrone successfully launched missiles from an unmanned surface vessel during the RIMPAC 2026 exercise in Hawaii, marking a significant step in naval warfare technology. Two Lockheed JAGM missiles were fired from the autonomous Saildrone Surveyor, overseen by the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group. The fire control was managed remotely via the ARES system, with humans making the launch decisions. The missiles, weighing 50 kilograms with an 18-kilometer range, target small drones and boats. While offering low-cost strike capability, the vessel cannot reload missiles and remains vulnerable to enemy drone attacks, raising questions about its battlefield practicality.