The Swedish Armed Forces continue to accelerate their ability to detect, monitor, and repel threats beneath the surface of the Baltic Sea. Together with FMV and Saab, a large autonomous underwater drone is now being developed. This collaboration will enable the rapid development of advanced systems that will strengthen Sweden’s maritime capabilities and the protection of civil infrastructure.
LUUV is a large, unmanned, autonomous underwater drone, similar to a mini submarine without a crew. Photo: Saab
The environment on and below the Baltic Sea is of great importance to everyone’s daily life. A considerable proportion of Sweden’s imports and exports are transported by sea, and cables and pipes run along the seabed, supplying us with internet and energy, for example. Now, the Swedish Armed Forces are taking the next step in maintaining protection and security below the sea surface.
“The Baltic Sea is our home turf, and we already have a very good understanding of its underwater environment. With underwater drones, we are taking another rapid leap forward that will strengthen Sweden’s and our allies’ ability to maintain security in strategically important maritime areas,” says Tobias Söderblom, Development Manager at the Naval Warfare School.
The collaboration project will develop and demonstrate the LUUV (Large Uncrewed Undersea Vehicle) system. LUUV is a large, unmanned, and autonomous underwater drone, similar to a mini-submarine without a crew. The system is being built to independently detect, monitor, and respond to threats.
LUUV is platform-independent and will be able to interact with and be carried by ships, vehicles, and other craft. Development is already underway in Sweden, with sea trials planned for the summer of 2026, followed by further prototype development to enable series production. The collaboration with FMV and Saab makes it possible to test in realistic conditions, make adjustments along the way, and more quickly translate innovation into operational effect.
“Our reality is a constantly changing environment and threat landscape that demands a high rate of innovation. Collaboration with the defense industry and academia allows us to develop agilely and test in real environments. The result is that we can more quickly meet military needs that strengthen Sweden’s security,” says Tobias Söderblom.
Source: Swedish Armed Forces
