Saildrone Signs Agreement with Norway's Umoe Mandal to Produce Unmanned Surface Vessels

US maritime technology company Saildrone has signed an agreement with Norwegian shipbuilder Umoe Mandal at the Euronaval defense show in Paris to produce unmanned surface vessels. Umoe Mandal will build Saildrone's 20-meter Surveyor USV, while Saildrone provides the autonomy suite, electronics, and navigation systems. The deal is part of Saildrone's European expansion, following a new Copenhagen headquarters and a Polish wing-production partnership. Umoe Mandal has begun building a dedicated factory with monthly capacity of two vessels. Nordic countries including Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Norway are potential customers under the NORDEFCO framework, and Sweden has already deployed four Saildrone Voyager USVs for a year-long Baltic Sea surveillance mission.