**VILNIUS, Lithuania** — U.S.-based Saildrone is set to deploy four large unmanned surface vessels (USVs) in Danish waters next month. This mission aims to conduct maritime surveillance and protect critical undersea infrastructure.
This deployment marks Saildrone’s first European mission and will occur in collaboration with the Royal Danish Navy Command and the Danish Ministry of Defense Acquisition and Logistics Organization.
The operation will utilize four 10-meter Voyager USVs, which are equipped with a suite of intelligence-gathering sensors and artificial intelligence for data fusion. The aim is to enhance the Danish military’s maritime awareness in the busy North and Baltic seas, known for their dense shipping traffic.
Currently, there are approximately 2,000 ships at sea in the Baltic Sea at any given time, according to data from the Helsinki Commission. However, Denmark faces challenges due to insufficient assets for consistent and comprehensive waterway monitoring.
“The threats we face at sea are different and far more serious than just a few years ago,” stated Danish Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen at a recent press conference. In response to these evolving threats, the Danish government approved a series of naval expansion plans last month, which include developing a program to assess autonomous platforms like naval drones and remote-controlled vehicles for underwater surveillance.
Saildrone recently established a subsidiary in Copenhagen and aims to enhance its regional presence. The company’s President, John Mustin, mentioned in a May 8 interview that their objective is to create a “center of excellence” for their platforms in Denmark, enabling local repairs and maintenance.
**Byline:** Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo is a Europe correspondent for Defense News, specializing in military procurement and international security, and is based in Milan, Italy.
