Maritime Mine Threat Experts Visit Saab Seaeye

With threats from underwater mines and waterborne improvised explosive devices (IEDs) ever present, an international group of defense and civilian specialists in mine countermeasures visited Saab Seaeye’s UK facility.

The group, that included the Deputy Director of The NATO Underwater Research Centre, saw a range of existing and newly developed underwater robotic vehicles used in searching for, disarming and neutralising mines and waterborne IEDs.

The robotic vehicles are designed to work remotely to reduce the risk towards mine disposal personnel at sea and in waterways.

The Leopard is the most powerful electric work ROV in the world for its size.

“It was an opportunity for specialists in the field to share the company’s vision for mine countermeasures and the challenging aspects of maritime defense,” says Agneta Kammeby, Head of Saab Underwater Systems.

The visitors saw the highly specialised technology needed for these vehicles to perform in difficult environmental conditions and strong sea currents.

The range of vehicles on view included the Sea Wasp, designed for disposal of underwater IEDs; MuMNS, a multi-shot mine neutralisation system; the AUV 62 MR, a mine reconnaissance AUV; SAROV, a mine-countermeasure AUV/ROV; and the Leopard - the world’s most powerful compact electric work ROV. These leading solutions have been created by combining technology from both, Saab Seaeye’s commercial and defence underwater systems.