US Navy Tests AI-Powered SensorMAX Sonar on Helicopters at RIMPAC 2026
Lockheed Martin and the US Navy successfully demonstrated the SensorMAX AI sonar system during the RIMPAC 2026 exercise off Hawaii. The system processes acoustic data from sonobuoys deployed by MH-60R helicopters, allowing aircrews to monitor up to eight feeds simultaneously. Ground operators can retrain the AI model on new underwater sounds in under five minutes and transmit updates via encrypted data link. This platform-agnostic system aims to accelerate anti-submarine warfare capabilities amid growing submarine activity by China and Russia.
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Reports are grouped by semantic similarity and deterministic rules. Language models may assist titles, summaries, translation and cross-source analysis; the page itself is projected from evidence records.
- Current automated evidence projection
Cross-source coverage
Wire timeline
US Navy tests AI-powered submarine hunter
The U.S. Navy tested an artificial intelligence-powered sonar system called SensorMAX, developed by Lockheed Martin, during the multinational Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in July 2026 near Hawaii. The system uses AI and machine learning to analyze acoustic sensor data from sonobuoys dropped by MH-60R helicopters, updating sensor models and transmitting enhancements over encrypted data links to anti-submarine warfare platforms. SensorMAX allows aircrews to manage up to eight simultaneous sonobuoy feeds, doubling legacy capacity, with retraining cycles under five minutes. The system is platform-agnostic and integrates data from various sensors for air, ground, and naval operations. The article also notes China is integrating AI into anti-submarine warfare.
US Navy Tests AI-Powered Submarine Hunter at RIMPAC Exercise
The U.S. Navy tested an artificial intelligence-powered sonar system called SensorMAX, developed by Lockheed Martin, during the multinational Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in July 2026 near Hawaii. The system uses AI and machine learning to analyze acoustic sensor data from sonobuoys dropped by MH-60R helicopters, updating sensor models and transmitting enhanced undersea intelligence over encrypted data links back to aircraft and fleet. Ground operators can retrain SensorMAX's models on new sounds in under five minutes. The system allows aircrews to manage up to eight simultaneous sonobuoy feeds, doubling legacy capacity. Lockheed Martin highlighted the system's platform-agnostic AI intelligence, which can accelerate the anti-submarine warfare kill chain. The article also notes that China is integrating AI into ASW, with Chinese media reporting AI that evaluates data from multiple sources including sonobuoys and environmental data.
US Navy tests AI-powered submarine hunter
The U.S. Navy tested Lockheed Martin's SensorMAX, an AI-powered sonar system, during the multinational Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in July 2026 near Hawaii. The system uses machine learning to analyze acoustic data from sonobuoys dropped by MH-60R helicopters, enabling rapid target identification. Ground operators retrained SensorMAX's models on new sounds in minutes and transmitted updates over encrypted data links back to the helicopter and fleet. The system allows aircrews to manage up to eight simultaneous sonobuoy feeds, doubling legacy capacity. Lockheed Martin described it as the 'Navy's AI portable sonar expert.' The article also notes that China is integrating AI into anti-submarine warfare, with claims of AI that evaluates data from multiple sources including sonobuoys and environmental factors.
Show 9 older updatesHide older updates
US Navy tests AI-powered submarine hunter during RIMPAC exercise
The U.S. Navy tested an artificial intelligence-powered sonar system, SensorMAX, developed by Lockheed Martin, during the multinational Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in July 2026 near Hawaii. The system uses AI and machine learning to analyze acoustic sensor data from sonobuoys dropped by Navy MH-60R helicopters. It assists crews with target identification and can retrain its models on new sounds in under five minutes, transmitting updates over encrypted data links to aircraft and fleet. SensorMAX allows aircrews to manage up to eight simultaneous sonobuoy feeds, doubling legacy capacity. The system is platform-agnostic and integrates data from various sensors for air, ground, and naval operations. The article also notes that China is integrating AI into anti-submarine warfare, citing Chinese media claims of AI evaluating data from multiple sources.
US Navy tests AI-powered submarine hunter
The U.S. Navy tested an artificial intelligence-powered sonar system, SensorMAX, developed by Lockheed Martin, during the multinational Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in July 2026 near Hawaii. The system uses AI and machine learning to analyze acoustic sensor data from sonobuoys dropped by MH-60R helicopters, updating sensor models and transmitting enhanced intelligence over encrypted data links to anti-submarine warfare platforms. Lockheed Martin stated that ground operators could retrain the AI models on new sounds in under five minutes and push updates back to aircrews. SensorMAX allows crews to manage up to eight simultaneous sonobuoy feeds, doubling legacy capacity. The article also notes that China is integrating AI into anti-submarine warfare.
US Navy tests AI-powered submarine hunter during RIMPAC exercise
The U.S. Navy tested an artificial intelligence-powered sonar system called SensorMAX, developed by Lockheed Martin, during the multinational Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in July 2026. The system uses AI and machine learning to analyze acoustic sensor data from sonobuoys dropped by Navy MH-60R helicopters near Hawaii. SensorMAX assists crews with target identification, allowing ground operators to retrain AI models on new sounds in minutes and transmit updates over encrypted data links back to helicopters and the fleet. The system can manage up to eight simultaneous sonobuoy surveillance feeds, doubling legacy capacity. Lockheed Martin described it as the 'Navy's AI portable sonar expert,' capable of integrating data from various sensors for air, ground, and naval operations. The article also notes that China is integrating AI into anti-submarine warfare, with claims of developing AI that evaluates data from multiple sources.
US Navy tests AI-powered submarine hunter during RIMPAC exercise
The U.S. Navy tested an artificial intelligence-powered sonar system called SensorMAX, developed by Lockheed Martin, during the multinational Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in July 2026 near Hawaii. The system uses AI and machine learning to analyze acoustic sensor data from sonobuoys dropped by Navy MH-60R helicopters, updating sensor models in real time and transmitting updates over encrypted data links to anti-submarine warfare platforms. Lockheed Martin stated that SensorMAX allows aircrews to manage up to eight simultaneous sonobuoy feeds, doubling legacy capacity, and that each retraining cycle for the AI model takes under five minutes. The system integrates data from multiple sensors and is platform-agnostic, aiming to accelerate the ASW kill chain. The article also notes that China is integrating AI into anti-submarine warfare, citing Chinese media claims of AI evaluating data from sonobuoys and environmental factors.
US Navy tests AI-powered submarine hunter
The U.S. Navy tested an artificial intelligence-powered sonar system called SensorMAX, developed by Lockheed Martin, during the multinational Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in July 2026 near Hawaii. The system uses AI and machine learning to analyze acoustic sensor data from sonobuoys dropped by Navy MH-60R helicopters, updating sensor models and transmitting updates over encrypted data links to anti-submarine warfare platforms. Lockheed Martin stated that ground operators could retrain SensorMAX's models on new sounds in minutes, and the system allows aircrews to manage up to eight simultaneous sonobuoy surveillance feeds, doubling legacy capacity. The company emphasized that SensorMAX is platform-agnostic and can integrate data from various sensors for air, ground, and naval operations. The article also notes that China is integrating AI into anti-submarine warfare, with researchers developing AI that evaluates data from multiple sources including sonobuoys and environmental data.
Lockheed Martin Tests AI Submarine Hunter on US Navy MH-60R Helicopters at RIMPAC 2026
Lockheed Martin successfully demonstrated its SensorMAX artificial intelligence system for anti-submarine warfare aboard US Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopters during the RIMPAC 2026 exercise off Hawaii. The system processes acoustic data from sonobuoys, allowing aircrew to manage up to eight feeds simultaneously—double the current capacity. When new underwater sounds are detected, ground operators label the noise signature, retrain the AI model in under five minutes, and transmit updates to aircraft in flight via an encrypted data link. The exercise showed that AI-assisted acoustic analysis can detect and track underwater targets faster than traditional methods. The software is portable and sensor-agnostic, capable of running in air, at sea, or ashore. Lockheed Martin partnered with FUSE Inc for over-the-air model delivery. The MH-60R is the US Navy's primary maritime helicopter, also operated by several allied nations. RIMPAC is the world's largest international maritime exercise, with growing focus on anti-submarine warfare amid expanding Chinese and Russian submarine activity.
AI Submarine Hunter Flown on American Helicopters
Lockheed Martin demonstrated its SensorMAX artificial intelligence system for anti-submarine warfare aboard US Navy MH-60R helicopters during the RIMPAC 2026 exercise off Hawaii. The system processes acoustic data from sonobuoys, allowing aircrew to manage up to eight feeds simultaneously—double the current capacity. When new underwater sounds are detected, ground operators label the noise signature, retrain the AI model in under five minutes, and transmit updates to aircraft in flight via an encrypted data link. The exercise showed that AI-assisted helicopters can detect and track underwater targets faster than traditional methods. The software is portable and sensor-agnostic, capable of running in air, at sea, or ashore. Lockheed Martin partnered with FUSE Inc for over-the-air delivery of model updates without interrupting operations. The MH-60R Seahawk is the US Navy's primary maritime helicopter, also operated by Australia, India, Denmark, and others. RIMPAC is the world's largest international maritime exercise, held biennially around Hawaii.
Lockheed Martin and US Navy Test AI-Powered SensorMAX Sonar at RIMPAC 26
Lockheed Martin, in collaboration with the US Navy, has successfully demonstrated a retrainable artificial intelligence sonar system called SensorMAX during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 26 exercise. The AI-powered sonar is designed for antisubmarine warfare, enhancing the ability to detect and track underwater threats. The demonstration highlights the integration of advanced machine learning capabilities into naval sensor systems, allowing the sonar to be retrained for evolving operational environments. This development marks a significant step in modernizing undersea warfare capabilities for the US Navy.
Lockheed Martin and US Navy test AI-powered SensorMAX sonar at RIMPAC 2026
Lockheed Martin and the US Navy successfully demonstrated a rapidly retrainable AI/ML sonar system, SensorMAX, for antisubmarine warfare during the RIMPAC 2026 exercise. The system processed acoustic data from sonobuoys deployed by MH-60R helicopters, allowing aircrews to monitor up to eight sonobuoys simultaneously. When encountering new acoustic signatures, ground operators could label the data, retrain the AI model, and securely transmit the updated model back to the helicopters via encrypted data link in under five minutes. This closed-loop process aims to enhance situational awareness and threat tracking speed. The platform-agnostic system can operate in airborne, maritime, or land-based settings. Lockheed Martin highlighted the integration of commercial AI technology with defense platforms to accelerate capability delivery.