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Lockheed Martin and the US Navy have demonstrated a new generation of artificial intelligence-enabled anti-submarine warfare capability at RIMPAC 2026, showcasing how autonomous systems could transform the way allied forces detect, track and respond to submarine threats across the Indo-Pacific.
Lockheed Martin and the US Navy have successfully demonstrated an artificial intelligence-powered “submarine hunter” capability during Exercise RIMPAC 2026, marking another step towards integrating autonomous systems into future maritime operations.
The demonstration highlighted how artificial intelligence, advanced sensors and autonomous platforms can work together to accelerate decision making in one of the most challenging domains of modern warfare: the undersea battlespace.
The technology is designed to enhance traditional anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations by processing large volumes of sensor data, identifying potential submarine activity and assisting commanders in rapidly developing an operational picture of the maritime environment.
Devon Rodgers, vice-president and general manager, Undersea Mission Systems at Lockheed Martin, said: “Today’s battlespace requires the defense industry to accelerate capability delivery and seamlessly integrate commercial technology; at RIMPAC 2026, our mission‑focused engineers demonstrated exactly how we are meeting that challenge.”
For Australia, which is investing heavily in advanced undersea warfare capabilities through AUKUS, the demonstration offers a glimpse into the future operating environment expected to shape the Royal Australian Navy’s nuclear-powered submarine fleet and broader maritime force.
Rather than relying solely on crewed platforms such as submarines, maritime patrol aircraft and surface combatants, future ASW operations are expected to increasingly rely on networks of autonomous systems capable of persistent surveillance, data collection and distributed effects.
The demonstration comes as the US Navy and allied partners continue to explore new approaches to maintaining undersea advantage, including greater use of unmanned undersea vehicles and artificial intelligence-enabled decision support systems.
“Lockheed Martin is investing its own resources to mature AI capabilities, blending commercial innovation with our engineering expertise so the Navy has the technology it needs for tomorrow’s battles,” Rodgers said.
Lockheed Martin said the technology represents a shift towards a more connected and automated approach to maritime operations, allowing operators to process information faster and focus on higher-level decision making.
The company has increasingly invested in autonomous maritime technologies, recognising that future naval operations will require a combination of crewed platforms, unmanned systems and artificial intelligence to maintain an advantage against increasingly capable submarine forces.
The advancement is particularly relevant for the Indo-Pacific, where growing submarine fleets, increasingly sophisticated sensors and contested maritime environments are driving demand for new approaches to undersea surveillance and deterrence.
Exercise RIMPAC 2026 provided a major venue for allied forces to test emerging technologies and operational concepts, with the multinational exercise bringing together more than 30 nations, hundreds of aircraft and thousands of personnel to strengthen maritime interoperability.
For Australia, the development reinforces the importance of integrating autonomous systems into future naval operations. The Royal Australian Navy’s transition towards nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS will require not only advanced platforms but also the sensors, networks and autonomous capabilities needed to operate effectively in a highly contested undersea environment.
As potential adversaries expand their submarine fleets and invest in advanced maritime surveillance capabilities, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems are increasingly emerging as critical tools for maintaining strategic advantage.
The Lockheed Martin and US Navy demonstration highlights a broader transformation underway across allied navies: the future of undersea warfare will not be defined by submarines alone, but by the ability to combine crewed platforms, unmanned systems and artificial intelligence into a single, integrated maritime combat network.
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