US Navy Fleet Experimentation Program (FLEX)

Naval experimentation program

Appears in 1 story · Last updated Sep 10, 2026

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Saildrone unmanned vessel fires missiles for first time during RIMPAC 2026

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As of September 2026: Sponsored and oversaw the RIMPAC live-fire test

A 20-meter autonomous sailboat fired two live missiles off Hawaii in August. It was the first time a Saildrone unmanned surface vehicle (USV) launched a weapon, and it happened during RIMPAC, the world's largest naval exercise.

Updated Sep 10