In a new push toward autonomous maritime warfare, Lockheed Martin Ventures is teaming up with Rhode Island-based startup HavocAI to accelerate the development of medium unmanned surface vehicles (mUSVs) for the US military.
The drone boats are being developed to carry weapons and conduct missions without onboard crews, offering a lower-risk way to project power at sea.
The partnership will combine Lockheed’s weapons integration experience with HavocAI’s software-driven autonomy systems.
It comes as the Pentagon increases its investment in uncrewed systems across the maritime domain.
“The future of maritime warfare is autonomous, and the mUSV is at the forefront of this revolution,” said Paul Lwin, Founder and CEO at HavocAI. “By collaborating with Lockheed Martin, we can integrate advanced weapons systems and deliver complete solutions that meet the evolving needs of our warfighters.”
HavocAI has delivered more than 50 of its 14-foot (4.3-meter) autonomous boats to date, including over two dozen acquired by the US Department of Defense.
The company recently completed successful sea trials of a 42-foot (12.8-meter) version and plans to introduce a 100-foot (30.5-meter) mUSV before the end of the year.
A Strategic Move
Lockheed’s investment in HavocAI reflects a broader shift in naval strategy toward distributed, uncrewed operations.
mUSVs are seen as a key part of the future, offering greater range, payload flexibility, and mission versatility compared to smaller platforms.
“Maintaining superiority in maritime defense is fundamental to ensuring deterrence in contested waters,” said Chris Moran, Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin Ventures.
“The mUSV is a game-changer for maritime defense, offering enhanced range, payload capacity, and mission versatility. By combining HavocAI’s innovative autonomy stack with our ability to integrate the best of American technology and deliver at scale, we can give warfighters a decisive edge in future conflicts.”
With Lockheed’s backing, the startup is positioning itself to move beyond small-scale deliveries and into larger, more capable platforms.
