Coinciding with the 2024 Euronaval exhibition, held in Paris from 4-7 November, Saab has launched Autonomous Ocean Core: a ready-to-use control system to provide autonomous capabilities to surface and subsurface naval platforms.
A vessel-agnostic control system with an open architecture, Autonomous Ocean Core is designed to make vessels autonomous to enhance their mission success at sea. It provides baseline autonomy, including vessel control, to platforms on or below the ocean surface and allows operators to add additional capabilities continuously without losing built-in safety functions.
The system allows integrated, uncrewed vessels to operate on missions such as mine detection and clearance; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and electronic warfare.
Autonomous Ocean Core has different modes for manoeuvring on a mission, each supporting precise control and operational flexibility based on the mission’s need. The system can also be can be configured to operate in three different manners, each tailored to specific operational needs and safety requirements.
According to Saab, the system is ready to perform tasks “right out of the box”, with or without added functionality. “With safety assured, it provides a solid foundation for expanding autonomy capabilities through Saab’s continuous development and third-party collaborations,” the company stated.
“The development of naval unmanned and autonomous units is progressing, enhancing capabilities for maritime security operations. Autonomous Ocean Core can boost key operational strengths for the dull, dirty, dangerous and dear,” Mats Wicksell, senior vice president and head of Saab’s Kockums business area, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “This control system gives our customers a tactical edge, increasing availability and efficiency and becoming less dependent on active manpower.”
