Saab unveils its monster underwater drone vehicle, created and built in less than a year

Sweden's Saab has developed a large uncrewed underwater vehicle demonstrator, known as LUUV, in less than a year through collaboration with Swedish defense authorities. The prototype successfully completed initial sea trials, marking it as a working demonstrator that can now be used for testing and improvement. Swedish Defence Materiel Administration and the Swedish Armed Forces will evaluate the drone's suitability for military needs.

Mats Wicksell, head of Saab's Naval business area, emphasized how the project demonstrates the rapid translation of new technologies into operational value. The completed sea trials provide a real-world look at the vehicle's performance. The demonstrator relies on Saab's Autonomous Ocean Core software platform, which allows for autonomous operation of both underwater and surface vessels.

Next, Saab plans to enhance the platform with more autonomous functions, software improvements, and additional sensors. The specifications of the demonstrator, including size, maximum depth, endurance, speed, and payload capacity, remain undisclosed. Swedish authorities will use the results of the trials to decide whether to invest further in the technology.