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Lockheed Martin has announced a successful flight demonstration of a new AI-enabled Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) system, aimed at improving maritime surveillance capabilities. The technology enables automated target recognition with real-time sensor control, allowing for rapid identification and classification of vessels at sea.
SAR technology is a well-established tool for capturing high-resolution imagery under a wide range of environmental conditions, particularly in naval and reconnaissance applications. Traditionally, interpreting SAR imagery has required manual analysis, often leading to delays in operational decision-making. The integration of artificial intelligence changes that, and enables real-time detection, classification, and tracking of maritime targets.
According to the press release, during the test, conducted off the west coast of the United States, the system successfully demonstrated the ability to distinguish between different vessel types by analyzing radar data autonomously. The AI component, powered by Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) tools, allowed for near real-time classification and dynamic retasking of the sensor as new targets were detected.
The system was operated on compact, low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) hardware—emphasizing its readiness for deployment in environments with limited infrastructure. Edge computing capabilities meant the system could function independently, without relying on large-scale cloud resources or ground-based processing stations.
Lockheed Martin’s integration of SAR Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) with onboard sensor autonomy represents a shift toward more intelligent airborne systems, particularly in the maritime domain. As naval operations grow increasingly complex, the ability to process and act on data without delay is critical for maintaining situational awareness and threat response.
Ongoing testing of this AI-powered SAR ATR system is expected to continue throughout the year. Insights gained during these evaluations will contribute to broader applications across Lockheed Martin’s autonomous systems portfolio.
The demonstrated capabilities highlight a move toward more agile and responsive surveillance systems, capable of delivering actionable intelligence in contested or data-limited environments.
