January 27, 2026
Six Essential Takeaways from the 2026 U.S. National Defense Strategy for Maritime Leaders
Windward delivers a unified common operating picture of global maritime activity – empowering U.S. federal agencies to detect unknown threats, anticipate risk, and act faster across the maritime domain.
U.S. federal agencies face a rapidly evolving maritime threat landscape shaped by transnational crime, smuggling, sanctions evasion, and strategic competition at sea. As maritime activity becomes more deliberately deceptive, traditional monitoring tools fall short.
Windward’s Maritime AI™ equips agencies with:
Windward fuses multi-sensor signals, ownership records, cargo documentation, and OSINT into one mission-ready picture. Data and vendor-agnostic by design, it eliminates fragmented systems and gives operators a single source of truth.
Patented Maritime AI™ models, purpose-built for maritime intelligence, detect deception, flag anomalies, and auto-generate leads. MAI Expert™ – trained on a decade of expertise and validated across U.S. missions – adds analyst-level clarity and context with explainable assessments.
Windward transforms imagery into insight, automates end-to-end investigations, and streamlines workflows – collapsing time from sensing to action. The result is actionable intelligence for both strategic decisions and real-time interdiction.
Windward enables agencies to share unclassified maritime intelligence in real time, supporting joint operations, rapid coordination, and aligned decision-making. Automatically generated, briefing-ready reports ensure commanders and stakeholders can quickly assess evolving maritime threats without manual analysis.
Windward enables early detection of emerging maritime threats and generates actionable intelligence leads across global waters. By identifying anomalous behavior, affiliations, and patterns that signal intent, it accelerates analyst workflows from discovery to assessment — supporting gray-zone monitoring, lead development, and operational planning.
Windward’s Remote Sensing Intelligence solution fuses multi-sensor coverage (EO, SAR, and RF), AI-powered detections, in-app tasking, and a fully integrated investigation workflow. By delivering actionable visual insights to government, security, and compliance teams, it provides a decisive operational edge – enhancing maritime operations with speed, precision, and proof.
What is Windward’s role in supporting U.S. federal maritime missions?
Windward provides AI-powered maritime intelligence to help U.S. federal agencies detect, assess, and respond to threats at sea. Our real-time risk assessments, anomaly detection, and predictive insights strengthen decision-making across border protection, law enforcement, and national security missions.
How does Windward support maritime domain awareness (MDA) for federal agencies?
Windward fuses AIS, satellite imagery, cargo data, and behavioral analytics into one operational picture. Agencies gain real-time visibility, detect anomalies faster, and focus resources on the highest-risk vessels and regions.
What is MAI Expert™, and how is it used in federal missions?
MAI Expert™ is Windward’s Gen AI-powered virtual maritime analyst. It delivers instant, analyst-grade insights on vessel behavior, ownership, and risk by combining Windward’s maritime intelligence with open-source intelligence (OSINT). It also produces clear, mission-ready intelligence reports, enabling federal teams to screen, investigate, and act without slowing mission tempo.
Which U.S. government agencies can benefit from Windward’s solutions?
Windward supports agencies focused on maritime security, enforcement, and intelligence, including the U.S. Coast Guard, CBP, DEA, DHS, and DoD. Our solutions aid missions from counter-narcotics and anti-smuggling to sanctions detection and maritime infrastructure protection.
How does Windward help identify sanctions evasion and illicit maritime networks?
Windward’s behavioral analytics uncover suspicious movements, false identities, cargo discrepancies, and ownership links that reveal hidden sanctions-evasion or smuggling networks.
Can Windward integrate with unmanned systems and hybrid fleet operations?
Yes. Windward’s APIs integrate with unmanned and hybrid platforms, enhancing coverage with AI-driven anomaly detection, predictive insights, and automated alerts for mission optimization.
How does Windward improve operational readiness and resilience?
By combining real-time intelligence with predictive analytics, Windward helps agencies anticipate risks, allocate assets effectively, and respond faster, improving readiness in both routine and crisis operations.
What makes Windward’s Maritime AI™ suitable for federal intelligence work?
Purpose-built for intelligence operations, Windward’s Maritime AI™ fuses behavioral analytics, Gen AI, and proprietary datasets to surface hidden links and emerging risks in seconds, delivering clarity and confidence in complex maritime environments.
Is Windward’s platform compliant with U.S. security and data regulations?
Yes. Windward adheres to U.S. federal data and security standards and offers deployment options tailored to agency-specific compliance and IT requirements.
How can agencies see Windward’s AI solutions in action?
Agencies can request a secure, tailored demo replicating their operational environment to see how Windward integrates with workflows and delivers actionable maritime intelligence in real time.
