Denmark tests sea drones to enhance Baltic maritime surveillance

Denmark has launched a trial of uncrewed robotic saildrones, nicknamed "Voyagers," to enhance maritime surveillance across the Baltic and North Seas.

Two of the Voyagers, built by California-based company Saildrone, were deployed by Denmark's armed forces on Monday from the port of Koge, south of the capital Copenhagen.

The 10-meter-long unmanned surface drones, which resemble ordinary sailboats, are powered by wind and solar energy and are equipped with radar, optical, and infrared cameras, as well as sonar and acoustic sensors for monitoring purposes.

They are set to patrol Danish and NATO waters autonomously for three months.

Their operation follows testing in early June, when two Voyagers joined NATO's maritime patrols.

Saildrone's founder and CEO said the vessels provide a "full picture of what's above and below the surface" to about 30 to 50 kilometers in the open ocean.