Saab, FMV and the Swedish Armed Forces launch uncrewed underwater vehicle
Less than one year after contract award, Saab, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and the Swedish Armed Forces have successfully developed, built and launched a demonstrator for a Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (LUUV).
Developed at pace and according to plan, the demonstrator has progressed from concept to a fully functional vehicle. Following successful sea trials, the first phase of the project has been completed. The next phase is expected to focus on developing more advanced capabilities. The results will support the continued development of software, sensors and autonomous functions, while also contributing to future product development.
The vehicle illustrates how close collaboration between industry and government authorities can significantly reduce the time from identifying an operational need to testing a new capability.
“This project demonstrates how new technologies can be rapidly translated into practical operational value. The uncrewed underwater vehicle can contribute to increased endurance, enhanced situational awareness and strengthened underwater capabilities. The fact that we have also been able to develop and test the system in such a short timeframe demonstrates the strength of the collaboration between the Swedish Armed Forces, FMV and Saab,” says Mats Wicksell, head of Saab’s business area Naval.
The demonstrator has been developed to support the development and evaluation of future underwater capabilities and to enable operations alongside existing naval platforms, such as submarines.
The rapid development has been enabled by Saab’s software-centric approach and the integration of Autonomous Ocean Core, Saab’s autonomous control system that provides surface and subsurface vehicles with autonomous capabilities. Combined with Swedish expertise in submarine design and sensor integration, this has made it possible to take the project swiftly from concept to sea trials.
The LUUV project builds on Saab’s earlier investments and work in autonomous underwater systems and is now led by FMV in cooperation with the Swedish Armed Forces and Saab. The project provides a basis for Swedish authorities’ decisions regarding the future acquisition and operational use of autonomous underwater systems.
photo courtesy Saab
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Saab, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), and the Swedish Armed Forces launched a demonstrator for a Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (LUUV) in Sweden. The project progressed from concept to a fully functional vehicle in less than a year, completing successful sea trials. Future phases will enhance capabilities, demonstrating effective collaboration between military and industry.
- Saab, FMV, and the Swedish Armed Forces launched a demonstrator for a Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (LUUV).
- The project progressed from concept to a fully functional vehicle in less than a year.
- Successful sea trials have been completed, marking the end of the first phase of the project.
- The next phase will focus on developing more advanced capabilities.
- The project illustrates effective collaboration between industry and government authorities.