Denmark will test autonomous sea drones in response to rising tensions with Russia.

      The Danish Armed Forces are preparing to test four autonomous sea drones that will patrol the waters of Northern Europe in search of criminal activities.

      These uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs), powered by wind and solar energy, will collect real-time data through sensors and cameras located both on the surface and underwater. An onboard computer will transmit this information to a machine learning algorithm designed to detect patterns and identify potential threats.

      This technology aims to assist the Danish defense forces in recognizing dangers such as enemy submarines, illegal fishing, drug trafficking, or interference with undersea cables. Additionally, the drones will carry out deep-sea mapping to provide authorities with improved insights into the ocean floor and underwater structures, including communication cables, pipelines, and offshore energy installations.

      The need for such surveillance has increased following the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, which revealed the susceptibility of underwater assets to covert attacks. Denmark is also enhancing its maritime defenses in the Baltic Sea due to rising concerns about Russian threats.

      The robotic sailboats are developed and operated by Saildrone, a U.S.-based technology company founded by British engineer Richard Jenkins in 2012. Initially, Saildrone concentrated on climate and weather monitoring, but now the majority of its fleet of 140 is utilized for defense and security aims.

      "The Baltic, North Sea, and European Arctic waters are currently facing unprecedented threats," Jenkins stated. "We are thrilled to partner with the Danish armed forces to deploy Saildrone systems to help safeguard Europe’s critical underwater infrastructure and enhance regional security."

      Denmark's military will start testing the four vessels in June as part of a wider initiative to strengthen its advanced defenses, which includes deploying mine-hunting underwater drones and uncrewed surveillance planes.

      Last month, the Nordic nation unveiled a $614 million funding plan to acquire 26 new naval vessels, additional drones, and sonar technologies in response to emerging maritime threats, particularly from Russia.

      Additionally, the company established a Danish subsidiary in Copenhagen last month, aiming to bring the technology closer to significant defense markets like the UK, France, and Germany.