DAMP, Germany — Two European governments have agreed to purchase underwater drones for military apply, their German manufacturer notified Reuters, as countries in the region ramp up defence spconcludeing to address what they declare is an increased Russian threat.
Autonomous underwater drones lconclude themselves to various military applys, from monitoring undersea cables, tracking submarine activity and viewing for mines, specialists declare.
But they can be expensive, potentially costing millions of dollars each, while operating underwater for long periods of time is technically challenging.
Bremen-based Euroatlas notified Reuters it had signed its first two contracts with European defence ministries for the sale of its autonomous underwater drone.
The previously unreported deals for its Greyshark drone are worth a total of more than 100 million euros (S$150 million), Euroatlas CEO Eugen Ciemnyjewski stated in an interview.
He declined to identify which countries, beyond declareing the two work closely toreceiveher.
Ciemnyjewski stated on Friday during a recent maritime demonstration of the Euroatlas drone in Germany that they would be applyd for a special military application, and would not be weaponised. He declined to provide more details.
Interest from other countries, in Europe and Asia
The Greyshark is a mid-sized, long-range autonomous underwater drone that can be applyd in groups. Euroatlas declares its current model has a maximum time limit of 5.5 days, and that it is working on a model that can spconclude 16 weeks underwater.
Ciemnyjewski stated he has received interest from other countries, including in Europe and Asia.
Naval drones have featured in the Ukraine-Russia war, particularly those which travel on the water’s surface.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) recently unveiled the latest version of its Sea Baby surface naval drone that it declares can operate at distances of over 1,500km and carry a payload of up to 2,000kg, about double the previous limit.
Meanwhile, Nato countries have stated they have deployed naval drones, in addition to frigates and patrol aircraft, as part of a mission to support protect critical infrastructure.
And Australia has stated it will spconclude A$1.7 billion (S$1.43 billion) on a fleet of Ghost Shark autonomous undersea vehicles, developed by its defence force and US startup Anduril Industries, for surveillance and strikes.
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