Saab to lead NATO's new underwater battlespace project
Saab has been selected to lead NATO's new project for the Allied Underwater Battlespace Mission Network, aiming to enhance interoperability of unmanned and conventional maritime systems.
Swedish defence company Saab will lead NATO's newly established Allied Underwater Battlespace Mission Network (AUWB-MN) project. The initiative aims to establish a standard for information exchange and system interoperability within the underwater battlespace across allied nations.
The project, which commenced on September 1, 2025, will develop a reference architecture and a test environment for a mission network. This network is designed to integrate both crewed and uncrewed systems operating above, on, and below the water. The goal is to facilitate rapid and secure information sharing across military branches to support combined operations.
The effort is being undertaken by the Saab-led MANGROVE consortium. Mats Wicksell, head of Saab's business area Kockums, highlighted the project's importance for NATO's collective maritime security, noting the growing strategic significance of the underwater domain. The outcome is expected to set a new standard for NATO's underwater operations.
The AUWB-MN project is seen as a significant step in modernizing NATO's warfighting capabilities and enhancing its ability to operate effectively in the increasingly vital underwater environment.