In a strategic move to enhance maritime surveillance and safeguard undersea infrastructure, Denmark is deploying floating drones, known as “Saildrones”, in the Baltic Sea. This initiative comes in response to increasing threats of hybrid attacks, particularly from Russia. The Saildrones, which are 10-meter unmanned marine vehicles resembling sailboats, are equipped with sophisticated data collection capabilities.
First Defensive Use in European Waters
Historically, the technology has been utilized by the US Navy for purposes such as combating illegal fishing and drug trafficking. However, the deployment by Denmark marks a significant milestone as it represents the first defensive application of this technology in European waters. “Our aim is to extend these capabilities to regions previously lacking comprehensive monitoring,” stated Richard Jenkins, CEO of Saildrone.
Amidst growing concerns about Russia’s clandestine fleet of aging tankers circumventing sanctions by transporting crude oil to China and India, Saildrones offer a crucial advantage. They can verify the identity of such vessels and monitor unusual activities that might suggest sabotage of pipelines or data cables.
Danish Armed Forces to Enhance Intelligence Gathering
The Danish Armed Forces are set to bolster their maritime intelligence and surveillance capabilities by deploying four Saildrones for operational testing in the Baltic Sea. These drones, powered by a combination of wind, solar, and diesel, are capable of remaining at sea for over a year, although the typical mission duration is 100 days. For comprehensive coverage of the Baltic Sea, it is estimated that 10 to 20 Saildrones will be necessary.
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