Norway unveils Arctic combat drone to counter Russian ships
Photo: Norway has developed a maritime drone for combat operations in the Arctic (kongsbergmaritime.com)
The Norwegian company Kongsberg Maritime has unveiled the Arctic Hunter USV—a new class of unmanned surface vessels designed to operate in the Arctic as part of hybrid fleets.
The Arctic Hunter USV combines proven solutions in commercial shipbuilding with remote control technologies, providing capabilities for anti-submarine warfare in the Far North.
Kongsberg Maritime has selected one of its proven Arctic-class commercial vessel designs. The Arctic Hunter USV, designed to operate in the harsh conditions of the Far North, serves as a reliable platform for carrying out unmanned military missions involving monitoring and target detection in the Arctic near the Russian coast.
The Arctic Hunter USV concept calls for rapid construction of the vessels at commercial shipyards, followed by the integration of military equipment by defense industry contractors. The vessel is equipped with a submarine detection hydroacoustic system from Thales UK and secure military communications systems.
The anti-submarine missile program, based on the Arctic Hunter unmanned vessel, supports an agreement with Lunna House under which the UK and Norway will lead the deployment of NATO's autonomous systems in the Far North.
The United Kingdom is investing approximately 108 million euros in new drones, sensors, and artificial intelligence systems for the navy, which are intended to protect maritime infrastructure from Russian submarines.
In addition, the United Kingdom and the Nordic countries have agreed to form a naval alliance to deter Russia, and above all, its submarines.
