The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) is testing three uncrewed underwater vehicles, known as gliders, in the waters off Gotland to see whether they can be used for surveillance in the Baltic Sea's shallow waters.
Two of the gliders are small; the third is larger and tows a long tail of microphones for greater range. They follow a preset route and surface to communicate and report what they have detected. During the tests they must find another underwater vehicle brought in as a target, FMV engineer Elin Nolander said.
According to FMV, the technology could in time add to surveillance by ships and submarines in a sea with key shipping lanes and energy and communication cables. Whether the Swedish Armed Forces will use the gliders has not been decided; the tests are first to show how they work and how long their batteries last in local conditions.
Background
Swedish Defence Materiel Administration
Defence procurement agency
The Swedish agency testing uncrewed underwater gliders for surveillance in the Baltic Sea.
Description from SVT Nyheter
Gotland
Island
A Swedish island in the Baltic Sea, in whose waters FMV is testing underwater gliders.
Description from SVT Nyheter
