Saab lifts veil on latest SAS-equipped AUV62-MR variant
Saab's AUV62-MR mine reconnaissance system. (Richard Scott/NAVYPIX)
Saab unveiled the latest iteration of its AUV62-MR autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and confirmed plans for deliveries to Sweden's Defence Materiel Administration (Försvarets materielverk: FMV) in 2027.
Developed in conjunction with sonar specialist Klein Marine Systems, the new AUV62-MR is a long-endurance AUV optimised for high-speed, high-resolution seabed mapping in support of covert mine reconnaissance missions or other applications such as pipeline survey; critical undersea infrastructure (CUI) protection; and underwater intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). Saab debuted the new version at an export market launch event in Gothenburg on 4 February.
While the AUV62 lineage began in the late 1990s, the latest MR evolution resulted from a new collaboration. Saab and Klein developed a high-resolution synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) payload that combined Klein hardware with Saab processing software. FMV became the lead customer in 2024.
Saab product manager Alfons Råberg said the AUV62-MR is intended to deliver lower operator workload and increase mission efficiency for customers requiring high-resolution seabed images and high coverage rates. “We are competitive in all waters, but we have a clear edge in shallow waters and poor water conditions,” he said. “That is mainly because of speed. We perform sonar imaging at high speeds, and we have a high end constant coverage rate of above 3 km 2 /hour.
“If it gets shallower, most systems go at around 3–6 kt. But during [NATO's] REPMUS (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping with Maritime Unmanned Systems) 2024 exercise, we showcased we can go at 7 kt and we can [actually] go up to 10 kt.”
Go beyond the headlines - with direct links to interconnected entities
Get full access to validated equipment, military capabilities, and market insights.
