Saab has signed a SEK 60 million contract with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to develop a new class of uncrewed underwater vehicle. The project will see the creation of a Large Uncrewed Undersea Vehicle (LUUV) with Saab as the prime contractor responsible for its design, construction and testing.
Central to the LUUV will be Saab’s Autonomous Ocean Core, an advanced control system that enables vessels to operate independently both on and below the surface. Integration of this system will give the LUUV autonomous navigation and decision-making capabilities. The first sea trials are expected to take place in the summer of 2026.
“The opportunity to work closely with FMV and the Swedish Armed Forces on this project allows us to demonstrate Saab’s ability to deliver advanced and adaptable systems within short timelines,” said Mats Wicksell, head of Saab’s business area Kockums. “This effort strengthens innovation in underwater technology and builds on our ongoing autonomy development.”
The LUUV will primarily function as a sensor platform providing seabed mapping, infrastructure monitoring and threat detection. It will also act as a decision support tool for operators enhancing situational awareness beneath the surface. Importantly the vehicle is not designed to carry weapons in its initial phase.
By focusing on autonomous technologies and underwater domain awareness Saab and FMV are positioning Sweden at the forefront of next-generation maritime capabilities.
