Swedish defence prime Saab has been selected to head up the development of a new NATO network to coordinate crewed and uncrewed systems on, below and above the waves.
The Saab-led Mangrove consortium has been selected by NATO to drive the development of the Allied Underwater Battlespace Mission Network project (AUWB-MN).
The AUWB-MN will be used to facilitate full naval interoperability between NATO assets from different nations, allowing speedy and secure information exchange and multidomain integration of underwater, surface and air assets.
As per a Saab press statement, the fruits of the project are expected to be adopted as a new standard for NATO. Part of NATO’s Digital Ocean and Antisubmarine Warfare Barrier initiatives, it is sponsored by 12 different nations led by the U.K., together with Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the U.S; all members have committed to adopting the resulting developed standard.
Saab’s Kockums division is leading the multinational Mangrove consortium, which comprises Fincantieri Group firms Cetena and IDS, as well as FlySight, GraalTech, Miraya, Saab UK and BlueBear, S2IX, and the University of Plymouth.
Head of Kockums Mats Wicksell commented: “Saab is delighted to lead this pivotal project for NATO. All of the Mangrove consortium’s expertise and collaborative focus for the next 12 months will be on the successful development of a mission network for NATO’s operations in the underwater battlespace.
“As all aspects of the underwater domain grow in their strategic significance, this will be a critical contribution to our collective maritime security and defence.”
Project Director for NATO’s ASW Barrier initiative David Burton added: “he AUWB-MN project is a significant step forward in the modernisation of our warfighting capabilities and the ability for NATO allies to operate effectively together in the underwater domain of the future.
“We are confident that Saab and the Mangrove consortium will deliver a robust and effective mission network that strengthens NATO’s maritime defence.”
- You can read more details on the Saab website