One signal

Sweden’s Armed Forces are to use four Saildrone Voyager unmanned surface vessels for a year-long maritime surveillance mission in the Baltic Sea, Dronelife reports. Each vessel is contracted for 360 days, totalling 1,440 vehicle-days.

The mission covers Sweden’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone. Saildrone will operate and maintain the vessels as a managed service, providing maritime intelligence to the armed forces. It is the first national deployment under the Nordic Defence Cooperation framework, which Saildrone says can help participating countries procure its maritime-awareness services. A long patrol at sea without extra crewed ships is a substantial operational test for uncrewed vessels, even if the report does not establish how they perform in service.

Discuss: Should maritime surveillance services built around uncrewed vessels become a routine alternative to crewed patrols, or should navies keep them in a supporting role?

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