Norwegian companies Eelume and Maritime Robotics are developing a new mine countermeasures concept that integrates unmanned surface vessels and autonomous underwater robots into a single, coordinated system.
At the core of the concept is the WP960 unmanned surface vessel (USV), which serves as a mobile mothership for a swarm of Eelume S All-Terrain autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Operating from the surface, the WP960 can deploy, recover, and support multiple AUVs assigned to detect and neutralize mines located on or beneath the seabed.
Mission data gathered by the underwater vehicles is transmitted back to the USV, where it is processed using AI-based object recognition technology from Biodrone to help operators identify and classify potential threats. The combined architecture enables surface, underwater, and remotely operated assets to function as a unified mine countermeasures capability.
The system is intended to support Norwegian defense, research, and civilian users by offering a more flexible and scalable approach to underwater operations and mine clearance.
The WP960 measures 9.6 meters in length, 3.4 meters in beam, and 3.8 meters in height, with larger configurable variants extending up to 11.8 meters. Powered by twin Hamilton waterjets, the vessel is designed to carry heavy mission payloads while maintaining high speed and maneuverability.
During survey operations, the USV cruises at around 4 knots, while transit speeds can exceed 30 knots. A single-point lift system streamlines launch and recovery, and the platform is designed for transport by road, sea, or air, enabling rapid deployment across diverse operational environments. The vessel is already scheduled for initial missions and was recently demonstrated at Norway’s Dark Drones event.
