Saab’s underwater systems supported elements of two “operational experimentation exercises” involving more than 2,000 civilians and military personnel from 15 NATO nations, Ireland and Sweden.
In September, Saab deployed the AUV62-AT anti-submarine warfare training target, together with the remotely operated vehicle (ROV), Seaeye Falcon. The Seaeye Falcon was operated from the Portuguese Navy ship Dom Carlos I, while the AUV62-AT was operated from a naval base. Both systems took part in two exercises, REPMUS 23 and DYNAMIC MESSENGER 23, over a total of three weeks. The aim of the exercises was to explore unmanned marine systems in an experimental operational context.
Saab’s AUV62-AT, in cooperation with the Swedish Defense Material Administration, FMV, supported anti-submarine warfare systems brought in by navies, industry and academic experts. To do this, the AUV62-AT was used to mimic the acoustic profile of a submarine, adapted for the exercises, which they could then hunt down and track. The data collected by the AUV62-AT was used to provide rapid feedback to the various systems, informing future deployment methods.
As part of the Critical Underwater Infrastructure aspects of the exercises, the Seaeye Falcon demonstrated its operational flexibility and reliability in a range of underwater tasks. It was crucial in identifying, relocating and neutralizing simulated Submarine Explosive Devices placed on a submarine communications cable. This included placing targets and carrying out underwater procedures used to render suspected hazards safe and their remote recovery for forensic analysis. This phase of the exercise was designed and conducted by Saab UK.
“It has been a privilege to collaborate with NATO and industry experts in exploring how to address the developing threats to our Critical Undersea Infrastructure, a defensive capability that will undoubtedly see more activity in the coming years,” said Dean Rosenfield, Marketing Director and Managing Director of Saab UK.
Saab looks forward to participating in future REPMUS and DYNAMIC MESSENGER exercises with more capabilities from its portfolio.