The American firm Saildrone has announced plans to test four Voyager uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) in Denmark to enhance sea surveillance and data collection capabilities.
The testing campaign, scheduled to start in June, is part of a larger initiative to integrate uncrewed systems into Denmark’s defense architecture.
“The Baltic, North Sea, and European Arctic waters are currently facing unprecedented threats,” said Richard Jenkins, Saildrone founder and CEO.
“We are very excited to be partnering with the Danish armed forces to deploy Saildrone systems, to help protect Europe’s critical undersea infrastructure and increase regional security,” added Jenkins.
Features
Saildrone Voyager is a 33-foot (10-meter) USV powered by wind and solar energy, allowing months-long operations without needing an onboard crew.
It is designed for maritime security tasks and nearshore ocean mapping, featuring a multibeam sonar system that can map the seafloor down to 900 feet (about 300 meters).
Its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance package features a camera system, digital radar, and passive underwater acoustic sensors.
Enhancing Maritime Security
As tensions have risen on Europe’s eastern flank, Denmark is ramping up its defense efforts to strengthen undersea security amid growing concerns over attacks targeting underwater infrastructure.
In this context, Saildrone established a new branch in Copenhagen last month to support European partners in improving maritime awareness through autonomous technologies.
The initiative aims to develop various systems to conduct deep-sea mapping and monitor key underwater infrastructure such as cables, pipelines, and offshore platforms.
