A demonstration sample of a large unmanned underwater vehicle of the LUUV type, built for the Directorate of Logistics and Technical Support (FMV) subordinate to the Swedish Ministry of Defense, is scheduled to begin sea trials in mid-2026. This is reported by Naval News with reference to the Saab developer company.
In August 2025, FMV signed a contract with Saab worth 60 million Swedish kronor ($6.9 million) for the design, construction and testing of the LUUV prototype. This device, known under the brand name Autonomous Ocean Drone (AOD), will be equipped with Saab's own Autonomous Ocean Core (AOC) autonomous control system.
A demonstration sample of an unmanned underwater vehicle of the LUUV type
Saab
According to the FMV statement, the demo is intended to explore the possibilities of using autonomous underwater vehicles in various missions, including protecting critical infrastructure, as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). It is also planned to work out the placement of AOD on submarines.
"This is a demonstration sample that supports two types of testing in one," Rear Admiral Fredrik Linden, head of the Department of Naval Systems at FMV, explained to the publication. "Will we be able to accelerate the pace of production and launch it at the right time? And then, when it's in the water, what can we learn and how can we apply this experience to mass production? We will also be able to test how a future underwater vehicle for a new generation of A26 class submarines should look like."
The basic configuration of the AOD from Saab is 7 meters long, 1.4 meters in diameter, and 6.5 tons in weight. The device is equipped with lithium-ion batteries, which will allow it to carry out missions with a range of over 600 nautical miles at a patrol speed of about 4 knots.
Peter Carlstrom, Saab's product manager for autonomous control systems, artificial intelligence, and software solutions, said that the demo being created for the FMV will be a valuable tool for further improving autonomy technologies, exploring use cases, and refining operational concepts.
"There is a need for more unmanned vehicles to bridge the capability gap, and we see that the level of technical readiness regarding batteries and autonomy has already been achieved," he said. –Saab has extensive experience in the development of torpedoes and small autonomous underwater vehicles, and we also use our expertise gained in the production of large submarines."
The AOC autonomous control system, designed as a universal tool with an open architecture, can be easily integrated with propulsion and other onboard systems of an underwater vehicle or vessel.
"The AOC is an autopilot and artificial intelligence that controls the drone," Carlstrom explained. "This is the software that we are already using on our CB–90 type attack boat and other test platforms."
Another feature of the AOD will be the internal cargo hold. "This will allow the vehicle to carry various payloads. In the future, we will even be able to start considering the possibility of transporting various actuators," the Saab representative added.
An official launch date for the serial production of AOD has not yet been set. According to Carlstrom, the timing will depend on the LUUV test results and market needs.
