Four unmanned sailing vessels have been deployed for a three-month mission with the Danish Ministry of Defence, which is trialling new technology to boost its surveillance capabilities.
Developed by US firm Saildrone, the Voyager vessels are equipped with various autonomous intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems that allow it to patrol the Baltic Sea unmanned for long stretches of time.
That sea is a vital maritime region with growing geopolitical complexity as it is home to key undersea infrastructure, including pipelines and data cables, and is bordered by multiple Nato member states and Russia. In January, Swedish prosecutors ordered the detention of a Russian vessel in the area following damage to an underwater fibre optic cable.
“The Baltic, North Sea and European Arctic waters are currently facing unprecedented threats,” said Richard Jenkins, Saildrone CEO. “We are very excited to be partnering with the Danish armed forces to deploy Saildrone systems to help protect...