NATO has appointed Swedish defense contractor Saab to spearhead a multinational initiative aimed at constructing a cutting-edge underwater mission network intended to interlink allied naval forces. This project, known as the Allied Underwater Battlespace Mission Network (AUWB-MN), will see a collaboration under the “Mangrove” consortium, which is tasked with developing a reference architecture and a testing environment for a system that connects both manned and unmanned maritime platforms operating above, at, and beneath the water’s surface.
The alliance anticipates that this network will facilitate rapid and secure information sharing, thereby enhancing cross-domain integration and coordination during joint operations. The AUWB-MN project was awarded in July as part of NATO’s Digital Ocean and Antisubmarine Warfare Barrier Smart Defence Initiative, which enjoys the support of 12 nations, led by the United Kingdom and including Sweden, the United States, and Germany. Each participating country has pledged to adopt the established standards once the project reaches completion.
At the helm of the consortium, Saab’s Kockums division will work alongside notable partners, including Cetena and IDS from Italy’s Fincantieri Group, FlySight, GraalTech, Miraya, Saab UK, BlueBear, S2IX, and the University of Plymouth.
The strategic importance of the underwater domain has risen markedly, driven by the expanding submarine capabilities and undersea surveillance systems of rival states. The AUWB-MN initiative is aimed at becoming integral to NATO’s long-term strategy for enhancing antisubmarine warfare efforts and ensuring the security of maritime navigation.
Mats Wicksell, head of Saab’s Kockums unit, emphasized the importance of this endeavor, stating that the Mangrove consortium will dedicate the next year to developing a mission network designed to bolster NATO’s underwater operational capabilities. Wicksell remarked, “As all aspects of the underwater domain grow in their strategic significance, this will be a critical contribution to our collective maritime security and defence.”
