Uncrewed boat builder Saildrone has unveiled Spectre, its largest platform yet, with a focus on anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and missile capabilities.
The American defence firm has devised two variants of its new platform; Spectre Silent Endurance featuring a sail and optimised for endurance and underwater sensing, and Spectre Stealth Strike with a lower visual and radar signature intended for stealth and kinetic strike roles.
Classed as medium uncrewed surface vehicles (MUSVs), the drone boats are 52 metres long, weigh 250 tonnes, and are capable of up to 30 knots, using a mix of diesel and electric propulsion.
Saildrone claims extensive testing means the new platforms will be able to achieve this speed in conditions of up to Sea State 5, where waves can be up to four metres high. The firm states that at 25 knots with a 25-ton payload, Spectre has a range of 3,280 nautical miles in flat water and 2,790 nm range in Sea State 4. The drones have a maximum payload of about 70 tons.
The sail-carrying Spectre Silent Endurance offers added sensor height, and endurance, extending range potentially beyond 8,000nm.
As per its press statement: “Spectre is a high-endurance USV designed to deliver multi-mission effects above and below the surface. Spectre’s design is engineered from the keel up for long-range, quiet, persistent operations and leverages more than ten years of Saildrone’s experience operating USVs in the world’s harshest environments.”
Founder and CEO Richard Jenkins commented: “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.”
He added: “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.”
The firm has earmarked Fincantieri Marinette Marine to build both variants of the MUSVs aluminum hulls in its Wisconsin shipyards, estimating an initial production capacity of five Spectre vessels per year.
It says it is working with firms including Lockheed Martin for missiles and ASW arrays, and Thales for sonar. The wing for its Spectre Silent Endurance variant will be produced by American Magic Services (AMS), a Florida firm with a background in America’s Cup racing.
- You can read more details on the Saildrone website