Strategic Partnership Formed for AUV Defense Technology

KONGSBERG and DRASS have formed a strategic partnership to develop advanced underwater solutions designed to address evolving defense needs driven by the growing demand for sensing, robotics, and next-generation autonomous underwater vehicles.

The partnership will support the exchange of technologies, systems, payloads, and operational architectures, combining the companies’ complementary industrial strengths, technical expertise, and operational experience. Within this collaboration, KONGSBERG brings its leadership in navigation systems, autonomous underwater vehicles, sonar, sensors, and systems integration, while DRASS contributes its expertise in large subsea platforms, pressure-tolerant battery modules, compact I.R./optronic periscopes, and payload integration.

“Our goal is to develop highly capable, scalable, and interoperable underwater systems that meet changing operational and defense needs. This includes unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) solutions, and manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T),” says Espen Henriksen, Senior Vice President Uncrewed Platforms at KONGSBERG.

“Together, we will build on our complementary strengths in unmanned underwater systems and take the next step into the future,” Henriksen says.

CEO Sergio Cappelletti at DRASS states, “These jointly developed solutions will create an integration bridge between DRASS’s compact submarines and manned underwater systems, and KONGSBERG’s unmanned surface vehicles and conventional UUVs. By leveraging our respective expertise—particularly through the joint development of KONGSBERG and DRASS unmanned vehicles —we can advance interoperable underwater platforms and accelerate progress in this emerging field. Through this partnership, we are creating a unique operational environment, encompassing the broadest spectrum of assets and technologies for littoral waters and beyond.”