# Navy tests AI sonar assistant on Seahawk helicopters at RIMPAC

_Published Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 4:05 AM EDT · AI, Policy · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![The exercise used modified Sikorsky Seahawk helicopters — Primary](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/25fb08d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1008+0+216/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2Fc4%2Fdd%2F03946a034126966a97bea364532a%2Fasw-rimpac.jpg&na.image_optimisation=0)

The US Navy and Lockheed Martin tested an AI and machine-learning sonar processing system on two modified Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopters during the RIMPAC 2026 naval exercises near Hawaii.

The SensorMAX system continuously processes spectral-energy profiles and data from up to eight subsurface sonobuoys at once, which Lockheed says doubles the feed capacity of legacy systems. It flags potential threats for aircrews, while unclassified or new signals go to a ground station for analysis.

Lockheed says updated models can be retransmitted to an aircraft in under five minutes.

## Sources

- [New Atlas: Technology-Innovation-Outdoor News](https://newatlas.com/military/us-navy-and-lockheed-martin-test-ai-sonar-system-at-rimpac-2026/)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/gGsT5H8zXAcGNKGKpHkYEg
Published: 2026-08-13T08:05:41.636Z
Story chronology: 2026-08-13T06:48:23.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T01:31:45.099Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)