Lockheed Martin’s Lamprey MMAUV Goes Silent and Deadly

Lockheed Martin has unveiled the Lamprey Multi Mission Autonomous Undersea Vehicle, or Lamprey MMAUV, and the message is clear, the deep ocean is no longer a passive space but an active, thinking battlespace.

Designed to give the U.S. Navy and allied forces an edge in contested waters, Lamprey is a plug and play autonomous submersible built for covert access, sea denial, and long duration operations where manned platforms struggle to persist.

Lamprey arrives in theater fully charged and mission ready, but the real trick happens on the way. Inspired by nature, the vehicle can hitch a ride on a surface ship or submarine without any host modifications, quietly clinging on while its built in hydrogenerator recharges its batteries en route.

When it detaches, Lamprey slips into the depths as an independent actor, already energized and ready to work.

According to Paul Lemmo, vice president and general manager of Sensors, Effectors and Mission Systems at Lockheed Martin, Lamprey was internally funded, which allowed rapid iteration and testing.

The result is a true multi mission system that can detect, disrupt, decoy, and engage on its own, without waiting for constant human direction.

Plug and play power beneath the waves

At the heart of Lamprey MMAUV is an open architecture design built around a large 24 cubic foot internal payload bay. That space can be configured for a wide range of missions, from carrying sensors and decoys to internal torpedoes or even launch tubes for aerial drones.

This payload centric approach lets operators tailor the vehicle to specific tasks without redesigning the platform itself.

Lamprey is designed for two primary mission sets. In Assured Access roles, it can conduct stealthy intelligence gathering, persistent surveillance, targeting, and even precision strike operations.

In Sea Denial missions, the same platform can switch roles to electronic disruption, decoy deployment, or kinetic attack, turning the seabed and surrounding waters into a hostile environment for adversaries.

Autonomy is another key piece of the puzzle. Lamprey can follow complex commands, operate independently for long periods, and even work as part of a coordinated team of unmanned systems.

Lockheed Martin says the vehicle has already proven its autonomous maneuvering and surveillance capabilities during at sea exercises and tests, signaling that this is not just a concept on paper.

Decoy, scout, and striker in one hull

Lamprey MMAUV is positioned as a multi role asset that can quietly watch, actively deceive, or decisively strike. In surveillance mode, it lurks below the surface, collecting intelligence and feeding critical data back to friendly forces.

When equipped with optional launch tubes, it can maneuver into contested areas and deploy short range surveillance or strike UAVs, extending its reach from sea to air.

In a more aggressive role, Lamprey can act as a disruptive decoy, confusing enemy sensors and drawing attention away from higher value assets. It can also carry internal torpedoes, giving commanders an unmanned option for undersea attack without risking a crewed platform.

All of this is wrapped in a system designed for practical use. Lockheed Martin emphasizes easy upgrades and maintenance, with access to major systems in minutes, and innovative docking that allows the vehicle to move with the fleet while staying mission ready.

DroneXL’s Take

Lamprey MMAUV feels like a glimpse of where undersea warfare is heading, not with single purpose robots, but with adaptable, autonomous systems that blur the line between sensor, decoy, and weapon.

While DroneXL readers are used to seeing this evolution in the air, the same logic clearly applies below the surface. Persistent autonomy, modular payloads, and teaming behavior are becoming the standard, whether the platform flies, floats, or dives, and Lamprey shows just how serious that shift has become when the ocean itself turns into an active combat domain.

Photo credit: Lockheed Martin