Why the Danish military is using these crewless vessels in the North and Baltic Seas
From a distance they look almost like ordinary sailboats, their sails emblazoned with the red-and-white flag of Denmark.
But these 10-meter (30-foot) -long vessels carry no crew and are designed for surveillance.
Four uncrewed robotic sailboats, known as 'Voyagers,' have been put into service by Denmark's armed forces for a three-month operational trial.
Built by Alameda, California-based company Saildrone, the vessels will patrol Danish and NATO waters in the Baltic and North Seas, where maritime tensions and suspected sabotage have escalated sharply since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.
Two of the Voyagers launched Monday from Koge Marina, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the Danish capital, Copenhagen. Powered by wind and solar energy, these sea drones can operate autonomously for months at sea. Saildrone says the vessels carry advanced sensor suites—radar, infrared and optical cameras, sonar and acoustic monitoring.
Their launch comes after two others already joined a NATO patrol on June 6.
Saildrone founder and CEO Richard Jenkins compared the vessels to a 'truck' that carries sensors and uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to give a 'full picture of what's above and below the surface' to about 20 to 30 miles (30 to 50 kilometers) in the open ocean.
He said that maritime threats like damage to undersea cables, illegal fishing and the smuggling of people, weapons and drugs are going undetected simply because 'no one's observing it.'
Saildrone, he said, is 'going to places . . . where we previously didn't have eyes and ears.'
The Danish Defense Ministry says the trial is aimed at boosting surveillance capacity in under-monitored waters, especially around critical undersea infrastructure such as fiber-optic cables and power lines.
'The security situation in the Baltic is tense,' said Lt. Gen. Kim Jørgensen, the director of Danish National Armaments at the ministry. 'They're going to cruise Danish waters, and then later they're going to join up with the two that are on (the) NATO exercise. And then they'll move from area to area within the Danish waters.'
The trial comes as NATO confronts a wave of damage to maritime infrastructure—including the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions and the rupture of at least 11 undersea cables since late 2023. The most recent incident, in January, severed a fiber-optic link between Latvia and Sweden's Gotland island.
The trial also unfolds against a backdrop of trans-Atlantic friction—with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration threatening to seize Greenland, a semiautonomous territory belonging to Denmark, a NATO member. Trump has said he wouldn't rule out military force to take Greenland.
Jenkins, the founder of Saildrone, noted that his company had already planned to open its operation in Denmark before Trump was reelected. He didn't want to comment on the Greenland matter, insisting the company isn't political.
Some of the maritime disruptions have been blamed on Russia's so-called shadow fleet—aging oil tankers operating under opaque ownership to avoid sanctions. One such vessel, the Eagle S, was seized by Finnish police in December for allegedly damaging a power cable between Finland and Estonia with its anchor.
Western officials accuse Russia of behind behind a string of hybrid war attacks on land and at sea.
Amid these concerns, NATO is moving to build a layered maritime surveillance system combining uncrewed surface vehicles like the Voyagers with traditional naval ships, satellites and seabed sensors.
'The challenge is that you basically need to be on the water all the time, and it's humongously expensive,' said Peter Viggo Jakobsen of the Royal Danish Defense College. 'It's simply too expensive for us to have a warship trailing every single Russian ship, be it a warship or a civilian freighter of some kind.'
'We're trying to put together a layered system that will enable us to keep constant monitoring of potential threats, but at a much cheaper level than before,' he added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fast Company
4 hours ago
- Fast Company
Why the Danish military is using these crewless vessels in the North and Baltic Seas
From a distance they look almost like ordinary sailboats, their sails emblazoned with the red-and-white flag of Denmark. But these 10-meter (30-foot) -long vessels carry no crew and are designed for surveillance. Four uncrewed robotic sailboats, known as 'Voyagers,' have been put into service by Denmark's armed forces for a three-month operational trial. Built by Alameda, California-based company Saildrone, the vessels will patrol Danish and NATO waters in the Baltic and North Seas, where maritime tensions and suspected sabotage have escalated sharply since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Two of the Voyagers launched Monday from Koge Marina, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the Danish capital, Copenhagen. Powered by wind and solar energy, these sea drones can operate autonomously for months at sea. Saildrone says the vessels carry advanced sensor suites—radar, infrared and optical cameras, sonar and acoustic monitoring. Their launch comes after two others already joined a NATO patrol on June 6. Saildrone founder and CEO Richard Jenkins compared the vessels to a 'truck' that carries sensors and uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to give a 'full picture of what's above and below the surface' to about 20 to 30 miles (30 to 50 kilometers) in the open ocean. He said that maritime threats like damage to undersea cables, illegal fishing and the smuggling of people, weapons and drugs are going undetected simply because 'no one's observing it.' Saildrone, he said, is 'going to places . . . where we previously didn't have eyes and ears.' The Danish Defense Ministry says the trial is aimed at boosting surveillance capacity in under-monitored waters, especially around critical undersea infrastructure such as fiber-optic cables and power lines. 'The security situation in the Baltic is tense,' said Lt. Gen. Kim Jørgensen, the director of Danish National Armaments at the ministry. 'They're going to cruise Danish waters, and then later they're going to join up with the two that are on (the) NATO exercise. And then they'll move from area to area within the Danish waters.' The trial comes as NATO confronts a wave of damage to maritime infrastructure—including the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions and the rupture of at least 11 undersea cables since late 2023. The most recent incident, in January, severed a fiber-optic link between Latvia and Sweden's Gotland island. The trial also unfolds against a backdrop of trans-Atlantic friction—with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration threatening to seize Greenland, a semiautonomous territory belonging to Denmark, a NATO member. Trump has said he wouldn't rule out military force to take Greenland. Jenkins, the founder of Saildrone, noted that his company had already planned to open its operation in Denmark before Trump was reelected. He didn't want to comment on the Greenland matter, insisting the company isn't political. Some of the maritime disruptions have been blamed on Russia's so-called shadow fleet—aging oil tankers operating under opaque ownership to avoid sanctions. One such vessel, the Eagle S, was seized by Finnish police in December for allegedly damaging a power cable between Finland and Estonia with its anchor. Western officials accuse Russia of behind behind a string of hybrid war attacks on land and at sea. Amid these concerns, NATO is moving to build a layered maritime surveillance system combining uncrewed surface vehicles like the Voyagers with traditional naval ships, satellites and seabed sensors. 'The challenge is that you basically need to be on the water all the time, and it's humongously expensive,' said Peter Viggo Jakobsen of the Royal Danish Defense College. 'It's simply too expensive for us to have a warship trailing every single Russian ship, be it a warship or a civilian freighter of some kind.' 'We're trying to put together a layered system that will enable us to keep constant monitoring of potential threats, but at a much cheaper level than before,' he added.
CNET
9 hours ago
- CNET
After Installing Dozens of Security Cams, I've Found the Best Places to Put Them
After unboxing your new security cam, it's time to install it -- and that means deciding where to place the cam and how to mount it. That's not always an easy decision, and it's different for every home. I and other CNET reviewers have tested all kinds of security cameras, from screw mounts and adhesive strips to solar panel add-ons and basic put-it-on-shelf models. Since we've tried security cams everywhere, we know where they work best to take advantage of high-tech features like AI detection and wide-angle lenses. Here's how to do it. Where should you install a home security camera? 1. Exterior: Front door You might assume that intruders always sneak into side entrances, but statistics from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors show that 34% of burglars use the front door. It's also where package thieves are likely to strike. A camera at your main entrance keeps tabs on everybody going in and out of your home, from family members and babysitters to maintenance people, delivery people and more. Pro tip: Video doorbells are great picks for the front door. You can use them as the primary camera or in conjunction with another outdoor camera aimed at the yard or garage. Blink's Outdoor 4 cam is easy to mount and reliable for watching an outdoor space. CNET/Tyler Lacoma 2. Exterior: Back and side doors Doors that are out of sight allow visitors to enter undetected, whether they're invited or not. NACHI statistics show 22% of break-ins happen through the back door. To ensure full knowledge of everyone who enters and exits, add cameras to your secondary doors, especially if one of them is used as often or more often than your front door, or if one (like a basement door) seems particularly enticing or accessible to a potential intruder. 3. Exterior: Garage and driveway Garages are a common target of burglars because they're one of the weakest entry points. A camera pointed at your garage and/or driveway keeps a watchful eye on bikes, tools, grills, sports equipment, cars and everyone that handles them. If your garage is detached, the camera helps you stay connected. If the garage is attached, the extra layer of security monitors another possible entryway into your home. If there's a gate at the end of your driveway, you may want a camera there to spot anyone attempting to get in. 4. Exterior: Wide yard views Monitoring the yard will help you keep tabs on anyone scoping out your house. It's also handy for capturing the activities of kids, animals and trespassers. As with garages, look for cams that have a wide field of view to capture lots of action, at least 130 degrees and preferably more. If you have a yard entrance, like a fence gate or a shed doorway, make sure the camera can see it. Blink offers a cheap option for a smart floodlight cam. Blink 5. Interior: Common areas Placing cameras in gathering points like the kitchen or living room is a great way to see if the kids are doing what they're supposed to do, if the babysitter is attentive, what the pets are getting into, or to check on household help like cleaners and repairmen. Consider prioritizing any rooms that have large ground-floor windows — that way you can see if anyone tampers with them or uses one as a break-in point. If there's a key point of interest like a sofa, pet bed or living room play area, make sure the camera can see it. 6. Interior: Main stairway or hallway Place a camera in the main thoroughfares inside your home to make it difficult for someone to move about undetected. If someone breaks in through a bathroom, bedroom or another unmonitored area, they'll still be captured on camera if they move about the house. Indoor security cameras are useful, but finding ones with privacy shields are worthwhile to help minimize the risks of hackers gaining access to sensitive footage. Arlo Here's where you should never install a security camera Places that violate your neighbor's privacy. Cameras are great for your safety, but you need to be mindful of the privacy of others in your neighborhood. In general, homeowners are allowed to have outdoor security cameras that cover a broad area, and it's usually OK to capture your neighbor's public-facing property in the background of your footage. Learn more with our full guide. Cameras are great for your safety, but you need to be mindful of the privacy of others in your neighborhood. In general, homeowners are allowed to have outdoor security cameras that cover a broad area, and it's usually OK to capture your neighbor's public-facing property in the background of your footage. Learn more with our full guide. Bedrooms and bathrooms. The urge to keep a watchful eye on kids or elderly folks in your household is understandable. However, some areas have a warranted expectation of privacy. Plus, if you use a monitoring service, you run the risk of a hacker tapping into a camera that has access to your private spaces. Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives. Baby monitors are a smart choice for very young kids' rooms. Motion detectors and glass break sensors, as part of a connected home security system, can be added to doors and windows. Personal medical alert systems are strong choices for seniors. Tips for outdoor security cam placement Eufy's solar panel makes a great pairing with this open-range security cam. Eufy Once you decide which locations to monitor, you also need to plan your mounting decisions. These tips make easy work of this step: Install cameras 8 to 10 feet from the ground. This height is low enough to capture fine details but high enough to be out of easy reach of thieves and vandals. This height is low enough to capture fine details but high enough to be out of easy reach of thieves and vandals. Don't point cameras directly at the sun. Bright light causes glare and high contrast in your footage, which makes it hard to tell what's going on. Consider the movement of the sun and angle your cameras for indirect light. Bright light causes glare and high contrast in your footage, which makes it hard to tell what's going on. Consider the movement of the sun and angle your cameras for indirect light. Protect the camera from the elements. Top outdoor security cameras have ample weather- and waterproofing, but they are not all equal. Choose a camera that's appropriately rated for your climate, and place it under eaves or in another semi-protected area if you can. Top outdoor security cameras have ample weather- and waterproofing, but they are not all equal. Choose a camera that's appropriately rated for your climate, and place it under eaves or in another semi-protected area if you can. Avoid places too close to branches or bushes . Plants grow over time and can block your security camera. . Plants grow over time and can block your security camera. Let cameras be visible. Visible cameras can act as a deterrent against theft, and that's one of the best uses of your security system. Tips for indoor security cam placement Corners are your friends. Hanging an indoor camera in the corner of a room usually gives you the largest possible vantage point. Hanging an indoor camera in the corner of a room usually gives you the largest possible vantage point. Choose a shelf for versatility . If you don't have to mount your cam, placing it on a shelf allows you to make adjustments later or even move it to another room. . If you don't have to mount your cam, placing it on a shelf allows you to make adjustments later or even move it to another room. Windows can cause reflection issues. Pointing a camera at the window might degrade its image quality. Many security cameras have infrared light technology, which aids in motion detection and enables the cameras to function in low light. IR light can reflect off windows and other glass objects and obscure your footage, especially in the dark. If your footage looks washed out or whited out, there is likely a reflection problem. Pointing a camera at the window might degrade its image quality. Many security cameras have infrared light technology, which aids in motion detection and enables the cameras to function in low light. IR light can reflect off windows and other glass objects and obscure your footage, especially in the dark. If your footage looks washed out or whited out, there is likely a reflection problem. Angle for indirect light. Again, direct light will wash out your footage. With indoor cameras, be mindful of lamps, light fixtures and bright windows. Avoid facing your camera directly toward these light sources. Do video doorbells have special installation rules? Yale's smart lock pairs with the Nest Doorbell. Yale Position video doorbells so they have a good view of your porch or entryway. These cameras are angled a bit differently than other security cameras, so follow the manual instructions carefully. Usually, they need to be placed around 4 feet up from the base of the front door. In tighter spaces, video doorbells should be angled outward to capture as much activity as possible. Fortunately, many video doorbells come with a special wedge just for this purpose. Otherwise, put it where people would naturally press a doorbell. Are there super-portable security cams? In some cases, you may want a security camera that you can move around all the time. That makes it easy to put down wherever the kids are playing, indoors or outside, or to focus on a problem spot where things keep going missing (avoid workplace refrigerators, please). In these cases, we recommend battery-powered indoor/outdoor cams that you can move anywhere and that are weather-resistant in case they're left out in the rain. One candidate is Ring's Stick-Up Cam Pro ($180), which has an excellent collection of watchful features. Another option is the Google Nest Indoor/Outdoor Cam battery model ($176), which is often shown mounted but can also come with a tabletop mount. For more home security tips, check out how to prevent your home security cameras from being hacked and the best cheap home security systems you can buy.
Business Wire
9 hours ago
- Business Wire
Mobix Labs Sees Strong Defense Sector Momentum and Continued Growth in Customer Bookings
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mobix Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ: MOBX), a leading innovator of next-generation connectivity solutions, today announced a significant surge in customer bookings, underscoring and accelerating demand across its Defense and Aerospace segments as the company approaches the close of its fiscal third quarter. Mobix Labs reported customer bookings exceeded shipments by 75% last quarter -- a key indicator of forward-looking revenue strength and growing customer confidence Share Customer orders exceed shipments by 75% in previous quarter Driven by its proven track record of supporting high-performance military systems, Mobix Labs reported customer bookings for its Interconnect products exceeded shipments by 75% last quarter, a key indicator of forward-looking revenue strength and growing customer confidence. This strong performance builds on momentum established in 2024, largely fueled by increased adoption of Mobix's Interconnect technologies in critical defense platforms. 'Our longstanding position in major defense programs has helped us build a strong reputation for reliability and performance, positioning us at the forefront of next-generation military initiatives,' said Phil Sansone, Interim CEO of Mobix Labs. 'That foundation is now opening the door to a deepening pipeline of strategic opportunities with both existing and prospective customers.' NATO allies increase military spending The backdrop of rising global defense spending continues to provide additional tailwinds. With NATO allies raising their defense spending targets to 5% of GDP, the industry outlook remains highly favorable—an environment in which Mobix Labs is well positioned to thrive. Mobix Labs continues to actively pursue M&A strategy Alongside strong organic growth, Mobix Labs is actively pursuing strategic acquisitions to expand its capabilities in both its Interconnect and Wireless IC and Systems segments, in alignment with its long-term vision to become a global leader in advanced connectivity solutions. About Mobix Labs, Inc. Mobix Labs (Nasdaq: MOBX) is a purpose-built, 100% U.S.-based supplier of advanced connectivity solutions targeting aerospace, defense, AI, and 5G infrastructure markets. Headquartered in Irvine, California, Mobix Labs delivers performance-critical RF, optical, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) interconnect technologies through proprietary semiconductor IP, advanced packaging, and vertically integrated manufacturing. Learn more at Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and generally may be identified by terms such as 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'continue,' 'could,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'intend,' 'may,' 'plan,' 'potential,' 'predict,' 'project,' 'should,' 'target,' 'will,' 'would,' or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Mobix Labs' expectations regarding customer demand, defense spending trends, business momentum, strategic opportunities, acquisition strategy, and future growth prospects. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic and geopolitical conditions, defense budget allocations and spending priorities, supply chain constraints, customer purchasing behavior, integration risks related to acquisitions, and other factors disclosed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Mobix Labs undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.
