Danish Armed Forces launch first operational deployment of Saildrone Voyager in Baltic Sea

This mission marks the first operational use of the Saildrone Voyager platform by the Danish Armed Forces. It also reflects ongoing cooperation between Saildrone and DALO to explore the role of autonomous systems in maritime security operations.

As tensions rise in the Baltic, Denmark is deploying Saildrone Voyager USVs to enhance situational awareness without compromising on endurance or environmental responsibility.

Read more about this strategic development on our blog: https://t.co/tBMa82qg8X pic.twitter.com/TF2MjprdKX

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The Baltic Sea is a strategically important area, home to key undersea infrastructure such as pipelines and data cables, and bordered by several NATO member states and partners. With increased regional activity and growing geopolitical complexity, Denmark is positioned to contribute to maritime situational awareness and regional stability.

By deploying autonomous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) technology, Denmark is increasing its ability to monitor maritime areas and support allied readiness. “The Baltic, North Sea, and European Arctic waters are currently facing unprecedented threats,” said Richard Jenkins, Saildrone founder and CEO. “We are very excited to be partnering with the Danish armed forces to deploy Saildrone systems, to help protect Europe’s critical undersea infrastructure and increase regional security.”

The Saildrone Voyager is a 10-metre USV developed for near-shore ISR and maritime security missions. It uses wind and solar power, with additional diesel and electric propulsion systems, to carry out long-duration missions with reduced environmental impact compared to traditional patrol vessels.

Each Voyager is equipped with a sensor suite including radar, AIS, and a camera system with computer vision to detect and classify maritime targets. With satellite connectivity and autonomous operation, the vehicles can remain at sea for extended periods while collecting and transmitting data in real time.

This operational deployment follows Saildrone’s announcement earlier this year of a new European subsidiary based in Denmark. The company’s expansion in Europe is supported by the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO), which invested as part of a $60 million funding round to develop Saildrone’s capabilities in the region.

“We are thrilled to invest in Saildrone and subsequently that Denmark has been chosen as the centre for Saildrone’s European activities,” said Peder Lundquist, CEO of EIFO. “Saildrone is a leading company in a rapidly growing market, and gaining access to this technology can become critical for both Denmark’s and Europe’s security. We expect Saildrone will have an impact on both the Danish defence industry and the Danish challenges with surveillance in the Arctic and counteracting sabotage in Danish waters—at a fraction of the cost of a patrol ship.”

The current mission builds on Saildrone’s growing presence in Denmark, combining domestic investment, industrial cooperation, and autonomous technologies to support regional security and defence objectives.