On September 22, 2026, Saildrone Europe announced that the first four Saildrone Voyager unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) had been registered in Denmark and would operate under the Danish flag. This marks the first time Saildrone unmanned surface vehicles will operate under a national flag.
The company, together with the Danish Maritime Authority, developed the regulatory framework required for the registration and operation of unmanned surface vessels under the Danish flag. Saildrone described this as an important step toward further expanding its presence in Europe.
The Voyager is a 10-meter unmanned surface vehicle designed for continuous maritime surveillance and nearshore mapping. It can perform maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, seabed surveys, and provide real-time maritime domain awareness.
According to Saildrone, the Voyager is powered by an electric motor and can operate for up to 100 days between service stops. Its mapping speed is 5 knots.
Four Voyager vehicles had previously operated for the Danish military for six months. According to Kim Løye Sørensen, a representative of Saildrone Denmark, Denmark and its Navy are now working on a new contract that would involve more Saildrone vehicles being used by the Danish Armed Forces.
Saildrone is also expanding unmanned vessel production for European customers. The company is working with partners in the Netherlands, Norway and Poland.
Separately, Saildrone is developing a larger unmanned surface vehicle called Spectre, which is 170 feet long. The company plans for it to become the largest and fastest platform in its portfolio and to carry weapons.
According to Sørensen, Spectre will have a container-based architecture for various payloads, including kinetic effectors. Construction of the platform is planned for 2027.
