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6/20/2025, 9:52:22 PM
Denmark deploys ‘saildrones’ in Baltic to protect undersea cables from Russia
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US-made unmanned vessels will monitor maritime activity as part of trial, amid criticism over closer ties with America
Denmark is deploying floating drones on the Baltic Sea to protect undersea infrastructure and bolster maritime surveillance amid the growing threat of hybrid attacks from Russia.
The arrival of Saildrone, a California-based company, has prompted criticism in Denmark over forging tighter bonds with the US in such a sensitive area as digital security.
The backlash comes amid rapidly changing alliances, evolving technology and ongoing tensions between Copenhagen and Washington after Donald Trump threatened to take over Greenland, which is part of the Danish kingdom.
The 10-metre unmanned vessels, known as “saildrones”, resemble sailing boats but are designed solely to collect data. Using onboard AI, saildrones compile data using multiple sensors, cameras and radar to produce a more detailed picture of maritime activity than satellites can provide.
The company has previously worked with the US navy, which used its vessels to help counter drug trafficking and illegal fishing operations. Its arrival in Denmark marks the first time it has been used for defence purposes in European waters.
“The purpose of Saildrone is to give eyes and ears where we previously didn’t have eyes and ears,” said Richard Jenkins, CEO of Saildrone.
As concerns grow over Russia’s so-called shadow fleet – ageing tankers used to circumvent sanctions by transporting crude oil to China and India – saildrones can be used to verify vessel identification and flag unusual movements that may point to undersea sabotage of pipelines or data cables.
“What we’re seeing now is commercial shipping fleets being used in military applications,” said Jenkins.
1/?
US-made unmanned vessels will monitor maritime activity as part of trial, amid criticism over closer ties with America
Denmark is deploying floating drones on the Baltic Sea to protect undersea infrastructure and bolster maritime surveillance amid the growing threat of hybrid attacks from Russia.
The arrival of Saildrone, a California-based company, has prompted criticism in Denmark over forging tighter bonds with the US in such a sensitive area as digital security.
The backlash comes amid rapidly changing alliances, evolving technology and ongoing tensions between Copenhagen and Washington after Donald Trump threatened to take over Greenland, which is part of the Danish kingdom.
The 10-metre unmanned vessels, known as “saildrones”, resemble sailing boats but are designed solely to collect data. Using onboard AI, saildrones compile data using multiple sensors, cameras and radar to produce a more detailed picture of maritime activity than satellites can provide.
The company has previously worked with the US navy, which used its vessels to help counter drug trafficking and illegal fishing operations. Its arrival in Denmark marks the first time it has been used for defence purposes in European waters.
“The purpose of Saildrone is to give eyes and ears where we previously didn’t have eyes and ears,” said Richard Jenkins, CEO of Saildrone.
As concerns grow over Russia’s so-called shadow fleet – ageing tankers used to circumvent sanctions by transporting crude oil to China and India – saildrones can be used to verify vessel identification and flag unusual movements that may point to undersea sabotage of pipelines or data cables.
“What we’re seeing now is commercial shipping fleets being used in military applications,” said Jenkins.
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