NATO picks Saab-led consortium for new underwater battlespace project

September 19, 2025, by Aida Čučuk

MANGROVE consortium, led by Swedish defense company Saab, has been selected by NATO to lead the new Allied Underwater Battlespace Mission Network project (AUWB-MN), set to deliver interoperability for maritime uncrewed systems and conventional platforms across allied nations.

According to Saab, the project formally commenced on September 1, 2025, and is designing a reference architecture and a test and reference environment for a mission network that incorporates crewed and uncrewed systems, above, on, and below the water.

The mission network is expected to facilitate “rapid and secure” information exchange, as well as integration across domains, supporting combined operations between all branches of the military.

Mats Wicksell, Head of Saab’s business unit Kockums, commented: “Saab is delighted to lead this pivotal project for NATO. All of the MANGROVE consortium’s expertise and collaborative focus for the next 12 months will be on the successful development of a mission network for NATO’s operations in the underwater battlespace. 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.”

David Burton, Project Director, NATO Antisubmarine Warfare Barrier Smart Defence Initiative, stated: “The AUWB-MN project is a significant step forward in the modernisation of our warfighting capabilities and the ability for NATO allies to operate effectively together in the underwater domain of the future. We are confident that Saab and the Mangrove consortium will deliver a robust and effective mission network that strengthens NATO’s maritime defence.”

To note, the consortium was selected on July 16, 2025, and the project is part of NATO’s Digital Ocean and Antisubmarine Warfare Barrier Smart Defence Initiative. It is sponsored by twelve nations, led by the UK, together with Sweden, the U.S., Australia, Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway.

Saab’s business unit Kockums is leading the consortium, comprising CETENA and IDS part of Fincantieri Group, FlySight, GraalTech, Miraya, Saab UK, and BlueBear, as well as S2IX, and the University of Plymouth.