Saildrone, a US manufacturer of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), has developed its technology to combat issues such as GPS interference and spoofing by integrating new protective equipment for its unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in challenging operational environments in the Middle East. The company has successfully integrated these new hardware and software algorithms onto its 33-foot Saildrone Voyager model, which allows it to operate in GPS-blocked environments.
GPS Interference and Spoofing Resistant System
Saildrone has focused its engineering efforts on developing a robust positioning system due to GPS interference and spoofing in the region, which has hampered unmanned operating systems. The company tested these developments on its 33-foot Voyager model, which it deployed in Jordan. Saildrone stated that due to the events in the region, such interference can affect traditional satellite-based navigation systems, and therefore, with their newly developed system, they have gained the ability to operate autonomously without satellite signals.
US Navy and Operations in the Middle East
Saildrone’s new systems are being used by the US Navy’s 59th Task Force during experiments in the US Fifth Fleet’s operational area in the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea. These waters are home to serious security threats such as piracy, arms and drug trafficking. Saildrone’s unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) provide a robust solution to these threats, strengthening security operations in the region.
GPS Interference and New Threats
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) says GPS interference is one of the newest threats to maritime security in the Middle East. The report, published on March 10, said that the jamming from ships in the Strait of Hormuz has continued for hours, affecting navigation systems and forcing ships to resort to back-up methods. Such disruptions pose a major challenge to maritime trade and military operations in the region.
New Localization Methods
Saildrone gained the ability to operate without GPS signals by relying on different forms of localization. This allowed the systems to perform their missions using alternative navigation methods without relying on satellite signals. Last month, Saildrone’s new technology was deployed in conflict environments during International Maritime Exercise (IMX) 2025, the largest naval exercise in the Middle East.
Statements by CEO Richard Jenkins
Saildrone CEO Richard Jenkins said that in future conflicts, relying on satellite positioning and connectivity will become increasingly unviable. The US military’s reliance on GPS-based positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) systems is increasingly being questioned. These developments will help military operations run more safely and autonomously, Jenkins said.
Saildrone’s newly developed GPS jamming and anti-spoofing technologies enable unmanned surface vehicles to operate autonomously in challenging operational environments in the Middle East. This innovation is seen as a major step not only for maritime security but also for future military operations. Saildrone’s technology aims to increase operational security by providing a powerful solution to the weaknesses of GPS-based systems.
