KONGSBERG and Navantia seek collaboration to develop undersea solutions
KONGSBERG, a Norwegian defense firm, and Navantia, a Spanish shipbuilding company, formalized their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on November 4, at the Euronaval trade show in Paris. This agreement aims to explore joint development opportunities, foster technological innovation, and initiate collaborative projects aimed at enhancing submarine and underwater capabilities through advanced systems integration.
Camilla Kiss, Executive Vice President of KONGSBERG and President of the Discovery division, noted, “KONGSBERG and Navantia possess complementary capabilities and a mutual understanding of what is needed to create new solutions for underwater operations. Our next steps will concentrate on integrating the HUGIN autonomous underwater vehicles and advanced underwater technologies into conventional submarine platforms.”
This collaboration is set to equip submarines with enhanced capabilities for anti-submarine warfare, intelligence operations, and complex missions, further solidifying both companies’ status as leaders in underwater technology.
“KONGSBERG will leverage its expertise in autonomous systems and sonar technology, while Navantia will take the lead on integrating these systems into submarines, ensuring they meet the operational standards of the Spanish Navy and other NATO forces,” she added.
The agreement includes:
- Integration of HUGIN unmanned underwater vehicles into conventional submarines.
- Development and implementation of advanced sonar technologies in conventional submarines.
- Joint innovation initiatives for future designs, modernization programs, and new production batches.
This latest collaboration follows two previous MOUs between KONGSBERG and Navantia concerning cooperation on the Norwegian Navy’s F-310 frigates and the integration of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) into Navantia’s designs.
