Equipped with a suite of advanced sensors, Saildrone’s systems deliver real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) above and below the surface. | Source: Saildrone
Saildrone Inc., a developer of maritime autonomy, last week announced the closing of a $60 million investment round. The company said it will use the investment to bring its technology to Europe to address the urgent need for maritime security for critical infrastructure and wider defense applications.
EIFO, the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark, led the round. Other participants in the round included existing investors Lux Capital, Washington Harbor Partners, Crowley, and Academy Securities, joined by new investors Pinegrove.
“I am thrilled to partner with EIFO and the Danish government to establish Saildrone’s European headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark,” stated Richard Jenkins, Saildrone’s founder and CEO. “Denmark’s unique geographic and political position at the heart of northern Europe makes it the perfect place to establish our European headquarters and operational hub.”
“Working initially with the Danish Armed Forces, we plan to roll out Saildrone’s maritime intelligence services to multiple NATO countries during the course of the year,” he added. “Our goal is to provide 24/7, year-round coverage for all critical infrastructure within the Baltic and North Sea, safeguarding these highly valuable installations for current and future generations.”
The Baltic, North Sea, and European Arctic waters are currently facing unprecedented threats, noted Saildrone. The Alameda, Calif.-based company’s uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) use sophisticated sensors, combined with proprietary AI algorithms. These provide a full picture of the maritime environment above and below the sea surface.
Saildrone plans to deploy the first four Saildrone Voyagers in the Baltic Sea in June 2025, under contract to the Danish Armed Forces.
Voyager USVs sail challenging seas
Saildrone claimed that its USVs offer endurance and resilience. They are capable of operating autonomously for extended durations in the world’s harshest maritime environments, said the company.
It added that its systems can collect real-time, accurate data for navies, law enforcement, civil government, and commercial organizations. Saildrone said it has sailed more than 1.6 million nautical miles from the High North to the Southern Ocean. Its systems have spent more than 46,000 days at sea in the harshest ocean conditions on the planet.
The Voyager USV earned Saildrone a 2025 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award for its mapping of previously unexplored areas of the Gulf of Maine.
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Saildrone strengthens ties with Denmark
In April, Saildrone established a European subsidiary in Denmark. It said at the time that Denmark is uniquely situated in the center of the European maritime environment, with coastlines on both the Baltic and North Seas.
Saildrone Denmark will be the hub for all of the company’s European operations. It will employ local staffers to provide support, training, and mission-planning capabilities to regional customers and partners.
“We are thrilled to invest in Saildrone and subsequently that Denmark has been chosen as the center for Saildrone’s European activities,” said Peder Lundquist, CEO of EIFO. “Saildrone is a leading company in a rapidly growing market, and gaining access to this technology can become critical for both Denmark’s and Europe’s security.”
“We expect Saildrone will have an impact on both the Danish defense industry and the Danish challenges with surveillance in the Arctic and counteracting sabotage in Danish waters—at a fraction of the cost of a patrol ship,” he said.
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