Saab launches Ocean Barrier for maritime border protection
The underwater domain has historically posed significant challenges for monitoring and protection. As the importance of maritime infrastructure to national security grows, the demand for effective underwater surveillance becomes critical. This challenge necessitates enhancements not only in the performance of individual systems but also in the networking of various capabilities to create a comprehensive operational picture and to coordinate response efforts more effectively.
Saab’s latest innovation, Ocean Barrier, is designed to tackle these challenges by allowing operators to detect, track, and analyze underwater activity across extensive maritime areas. This advanced system is instrumental in safeguarding coastlines, ports, offshore installations, and other vital assets.
With Saab’s well-established expertise in underwater systems, Ocean Barrier integrates sensors, data collection, and operator capabilities into a unified connected system. This integration transforms sensor data into real-time situational awareness, equipping operators with the insight needed to respond to potential threats confidently.
“The free flow of goods is the fundamental engine of the modern global economy. In scenarios of grey zones or conflict, an aggressor may attempt to disrupt critical sea lines of communication, threatening both economic activity and military logistics. Ocean Barrier offers our clients a scalable, future-ready solution that ensures continuous awareness, facilitating quicker decision-making and enhanced protection of essential assets and maritime zones,” stated Åsa Schöllin, head of the Underwater Systems business unit at Saab.
Ocean Barrier features three defensive perimeters—Detect, Prevent, and Protect—each customizable for varying operational environments. These elements can function independently or as components of a larger integrated system, making Ocean Barrier equally effective for securing individual harbors, naval bases, or offshore installations, as well as extensive coastlines and national waters. Its sensor-agnostic architecture allows for seamless integration with existing surveillance infrastructures.
At the upcoming REPMUS 2026, which is recognized as the leading international exercise and development platform for maritime unmanned systems, Ocean Barrier will showcase its capabilities. The system has successfully demonstrated its ability to integrate data from various sensor systems and autonomously transfer tracked objects to the central command system using a NATO standard protocol.
Built to adapt to emerging threats and countermeasures, Ocean Barrier boasts a modular, cyber-secure architecture that enables users to incorporate new sensors, technologies, and analytical tools as their operational requirements evolve.
