Latvian defence technology company SUBmerge Baltic and French defence and naval technology company Naval Group signed a memorandum of cooperation in Riga on Wednesday, providing for cooperation between the two companies in the development of autonomous underwater systems and their integration solutions. The event also included a demonstration of SUBmerge Baltic’s underwater drone.
SUBmerge Baltic is a Latvian defence technology company that develops autonomous underwater systems and maritime monitoring solutions for defence, security and the protection of critical underwater infrastructure. The technologies developed by the company combine autonomous navigation, artificial intelligence solutions and underwater sensors, ensuring effective exploration of the underwater environment and situational monitoring. The company’s aim is to develop world-class technologies that strengthen the security of Latvia and allied countries and promote the development of innovation in the defence sector.
Naval Group, in turn, is a French naval defence company specialising in the design, construction, integration and maintenance of submarines, surface ships, autonomous systems and their combat systems. The company cooperates with the naval forces of more than 50 countries, providing innovative solutions for maritime security and defence needs.
Significant for the Entire Sector
The memorandum is a significant step in the development of Latvia’s defence technology sector and strengthens international cooperation in the field of maritime security and the protection of critical underwater infrastructure.
The main objective of the memorandum is the integration of autonomous underwater drones developed by SUBmerge Baltic with the Steeris system developed by Naval Group — a solution for unmanned platform management and mission control. This integration will enable the autonomous underwater systems developed by SUBmerge Baltic to operate together with Naval Group’s solutions, expanding their potential applications in international maritime security and defence projects.
“This cooperation is a significant step in the development of Latvia’s defence technologies. We are not only creating a new industry in the Baltics, but also demonstrating that autonomous underwater systems developed in Latvia are capable of integrating with solutions from the world’s leading defence companies. This opens up opportunities for our technologies to become part of international maritime security solutions and, at the same time, helps address increasingly pressing security challenges in the underwater environment,” says Kārlis Bērziņš, Chair of the Board of SUBmerge Baltic.
The cooperation marks an important turning point not only in the development of SUBmerge Baltic, but also in the defence industry of Latvia and the entire Baltic region. The company is one of the first in the Baltics to develop autonomous underwater systems, creating new high-technology competence in the region and strengthening Latvia’s ability to participate in the development of international defence technology solutions.
As security challenges increase in the Baltic Sea and elsewhere in the world, including the risks of sabotage of critical underwater infrastructure and threats posed by naval mines, the ability to effectively monitor and analyse the situation underwater is becoming increasingly important. Autonomous underwater systems make it possible to identify potential threats more quickly, monitor underwater infrastructure, detect and neutralise mines, while reducing risks to people.
Opportunities for Further Development
In the long term, SUBmerge Baltic is developing a comprehensive autonomous reconnaissance system capable of identifying potential risks both underwater and above the surface. Cooperation with Naval Group also provides for the testing of autonomy technologies on the partner’s platforms, supporting the development of autonomous navigation without GPS and enhancing the capabilities of next-generation unmanned systems.
“Cooperation with local partners is essential in order to strengthen national defence capabilities and sovereignty. The memorandum of cooperation signed with SUBmerge Baltic confirms our long-term commitment to developing partnership in Latvia. Our aim is to introduce the Steeris unmanned systems management solution in Latvia and to build close, trusted cooperation with the Latvian Naval Forces. We are convinced that combining the expertise of both companies will create significant added value for Latvia, while strengthening European and NATO defence capabilities. I would also like to thank the SUBmerge Baltic team for their trust and cooperation so far. I am confident that this is only the beginning of our shared journey and that together we will achieve significant results,” says Jérôme Sena, Northern Europe Regional Director at Naval Group.
The memorandum of cooperation is also significant for the development of Latvia’s defence industry as a whole. It strengthens cooperation between Latvia and France in the field of defence technologies and creates the preconditions for new investment, technology development and long-term cooperation in strengthening European security.
In addition to the economic benefits, the cooperation also makes an important contribution to the development of Latvia’s defence capabilities and technological capacity. It promotes the growth of the local industry and strengthens Latvia’s role in the development of international defence technologies.
