In a significant move to enhance maritime surveillance capabilities in Europe, US-based company Saildrone has secured a $60-million investment round led by the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO). This funding will facilitate the introduction of Saildrone’s cutting-edge marine-surveillance technology, which relies on long-endurance unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), anchoring its presence on European shores.
The investment round also saw participation from prominent firms including Lux Capital, Washington Harbor Partners, Crowley, Academy Securities, and Pinegrove, elevating Saildrone’s total funding to approximately $325 million. Peder Lundquist, CEO of EIFO, expressed the critical nature of this technology for Denmark and Europe’s security landscape. He emphasized that Saildrone could have a sizeable impact on addressing Denmark’s defense needs, particularly in enhancing surveillance in Arctic waters and deterring sabotage within Danish maritime boundaries, all at a considerably lower cost than traditional patrol ships.
To support its planned European expansion, Saildrone is establishing its European headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. This new hub will not only serve as an operational base but will also foster local talent, enabling training, mission planning, and support services for customers and partners. Richard Jenkins, founder and CEO of Saildrone, articulated his enthusiasm for partnering with EIFO and the Danish government, citing Denmark’s strategic geographic and political positioning as ideal for establishing its European headquarters.
Saildrone’s USVs are equipped with a suite of sensors and proprietary artificial intelligence algorithms designed to deliver comprehensive maritime domain awareness, both above and below the water’s surface. Their operational capabilities encompass monitoring vessel traffic, detecting suspicious behaviors, and protecting national resources. Additionally, they engage in deep-sea mapping to enhance understanding of underwater infrastructure like communication cables, pipelines, and offshore energy assets.
In a bid to seamlessly integrate into Denmark’s defense framework, Saildrone plans to test a fleet of four Voyager USVs in Danish waters starting in June. This initiative aims to validate the platform’s surveillance and data collection capacities as part of a broader strategy to incorporate these advanced systems into Denmark’s defense architecture. Jenkins outlined a vision for expanding Saildrone’s maritime intelligence services to multiple NATO countries within the year, aiming for continuous, year-round oversight of critical infrastructure in the Baltic and North Seas, thereby safeguarding invaluable installations for future generations.
