The Italian Ministry of Defense awarded Kongsberg Maritime a contract for the supply of an unmanned submersible vehicle capable of surveying shallow waters worth $11 million (€10.2 million). Little information was provided on the vehicle’s requirements, although it is lightweight and suitable for operations in shallow waters at depths of around 50 meters (164 feet).
Kongsberg Maritime’s AUV is part of the Hugin systems, and the Italian Navy is already a customer. An Italian company, Fincantieri NextTech, has launched a surface advanced naval drone called SAND.
The Italian Navy’s Future Combat Naval System 2035 vision lists unmanned systems as a procurement priority, and the company expects an increase in demand for interoperability and related improvements in autonomous capabilities in the coming years. Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo is a Europe correspondent for Defense News. She is based in Milan, Italy.
