Lockheed’s new submarine-hunting sonar that doubles detection range tested by US Navy

Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy have successfully tested SensorMAX, an artificial intelligence-powered sonar system, during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026 exercise near Hawaii. After the drill, they announced that the system quickly identified and tracked underwater threats while allowing operators to retrain its machine learning model in under five minutes. The trial showed a quicker way to detect submarines by processing live acoustic data and giving crews real-time updates. Lockheed Martin said the technology also lets helicopter operators monitor twice as many sonar feeds as older systems. AI retrains during flight During the demonstration, two U.S. Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopters dropped sonobuoys to gather underwater acoustic signatures in simulated combat situations. Developed by Lockheed Martin in partnership with software company FUSE Inc., SensorMAX analyzes live sonar data and immediately provides tactical information to both flight crews and operators at ground stations. If crews encounter an unfamiliar underwater sound, they can label the signal, retrain the AI model in under five minutes, and securely send the updated software to aircraft while they remain in flight. This over-the-air update process allows operators to improve detection without stopping missions. The company said this helps aircraft adapt faster as underwater conditions or threats change. Handles twice as many sonar feeds SensorMAX acts as a digital sonar assistant, helping helicopter crews handle more information during anti-submarine missions. According to the defense firm, the system can process up to eight sonobuoy feeds simultaneously, doubling the capacity of legacy equipment. By analyzing more acoustic streams at once, operators gain a broader picture of underwater activity without increasing crew workload. The software is also designed with a lightweight, platform-independent architecture. That means the same processing capability can be deployed on aircraft, surface ships, or ground stations, allowing the Navy to integrate the technology across multiple platforms instead of limiting it to a single system. Faster response against undersea threats The company said combining commercial software development methods with current military hardware can help deliver new capabilities faster. “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,” said Devon Rodgers, vice president and general manager of Undersea Mission Systems at Lockheed Martin. The successful trial supports the U.S. Navy’s broader effort to connect crewed and uncrewed systems across maritime operations. As submarines continue to become quieter and harder to detect, the ability to rapidly update AI models while missions are underway could help forces respond more quickly to emerging threats. Expanding AI across the fleet Lockheed Martin said the RIMPAC 2026 demonstration is an important step toward integrating adaptable AI with more maritime sensors. Instead of relying on fixed software, operators can keep improving acoustic detection models and distribute updates across connected platforms. The company believes this approach can reduce the time between spotting an underwater contact and making tactical decisions. With AI systems that learn from new acoustic signatures during missions, future naval operations could keep better watch over aircraft carriers, warships, and other important assets, while improving protection against stealthier undersea threats.Recommended ArticlesGet the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.A versatile writer, Sujita has worked with Mashable Middle East and News Daily 24. When she isn't writing, you can find her glued to the latest web series and movies.