Lockheed Martin Tests AI-Powered Radar to Autonomously Track Maritime Targets

Lockheed Martin has tested a new artificial intelligence-powered Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) system designed to automatically detect and classify maritime targets.

The flight test, conducted on the west coast of the United States, marks a shift in airborne surveillance, allowing military forces to identify vessels more quickly and accurately without manual image interpretation.

The breakthrough was achieved through collaboration between Lockheed Martin’s AI Center (LAIC), Skunk Works, and the Rotary Mission Systems (RMS) division. Their integration of AI with SAR imaging allows for faster, automated object recognition—particularly useful for identifying ships such as warships and cargo vessels in open waters.

During the test, AI-driven SAR Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) used Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) tools to classify vessels of interest in near real time. The system also featured autonomous sensor control, allowing it to re-task radar sensors based on detected targets—without human intervention.

Importantly, the demonstration was conducted on low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) hardware, enabling real-time edge processing without the need for ground-based stations or cloud computing. This makes it suitable for deployment on a range of platforms, including drones and future autonomous systems.

The AI-powered SAR ATR system is expected to support development across Lockheed Martin’s autonomous platforms, including collaborative combat aircraft. Flight tests will continue throughout the year, gathering data to refine the system and support future deployment.