Saildrone, a U.S.-based company, is set to deploy four large unmanned surface vessels (USVs) in Danish waters next month to carry out maritime surveillance and safeguard crucial undersea infrastructure. This marks Saildrone’s inaugural European operation, conducted in close collaboration with the Royal Danish Navy and the Danish Ministry of Defense’s Acquisition and Logistics Organization.
The four 10-meter Voyager USVs, outfitted with advanced sensors and AI-powered data fusion for intelligence gathering, will assist the Danish military in enhancing maritime situational awareness. The North and Baltic seas, which are among the busiest global shipping lanes, see an estimated 2,000 vessels operating simultaneously in the Baltic Sea, as reported by the Helsinki Commission. However, Denmark currently lacks the resources needed to ensure continuous and thorough monitoring of these vital waterways.
“The maritime threats we face today are far more complex and serious than they were just a few years ago,” said Troels Lund Poulsen, Denmark’s Minister of Defense, during a recent press briefing.
In response, the Danish government recently approved a range of naval expansion initiatives, including the development of a program focused on evaluating autonomous platforms, such as naval drones and remote-controlled vessels, for underwater surveillance tasks.
Saildrone, which established a subsidiary in Copenhagen just weeks ago, plans to further expand its regional presence. The company’s President, John Mustin, shared with Defense News that they aim to establish a hub of excellence for their platforms, where maintenance and repairs can be conducted locally.
