Swedish defense contractor Saab has announced work on a new large autonomous underwater drone, a system that could transform how navies monitor and defend maritime environments. Built for long-endurance operations, the drone will be able to function autonomously in deep waters for weeks at a time, carrying a variety of payloads. Its modular design will support different mission sets, from anti-submarine warfare assistance to seabed surveillance. Saab highlights that this approach allows navies to scale capability without major platform redesigns. The development comes as threats to undersea infrastructure, including pipelines and communication cables, increase amid rising geopolitical tensions. NATO has called for expanded undersea monitoring capabilities, and Saab’s project directly aligns with these goals. Analysts describe large uncrewed underwater vehicles as the future of maritime intelligence, offering persistence and stealth that traditional platforms cannot provide at comparable cost. For Sweden, which recently deepened its NATO integration, the drone marks a strategic investment in undersea warfare. While Saab has yet to release specifications such as range or payload capacity, expectations suggest performance equal to or beyond rival systems. The initiative reflects Saab’s strategy of positioning itself at the forefront of European undersea autonomy. Defense observers see it as a timely response to evolving maritime security challenges.
