KONGSBERG and DRASS have signed a strategic partnership agreement to develop advanced underwater technologies and defense solutions. The companies aim to respond to growing demand for autonomous underwater systems, sensing technologies and robotics. The partnership will focus on exchanging technologies, systems, payloads and operational architectures. Both companies plan to combine their expertise to develop next-generation underwater capabilities. “Our goal is to develop highly capable, scalable, and interoperable underwater systems that meet changing operational and defense needs,” said Espen Henriksen, Senior Vice President Uncrewed Platforms at KONGSBERG. He said the cooperation will focus on unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities and manned-unmanned teaming solutions. KONGSBERG brings expertise in autonomous underwater vehicles, sonar systems, navigation technology, sensors and systems integration. DRASS contributes capabilities in subsea platforms, pressure-tolerant battery systems, compact optronic periscopes and payload integration. “Together, we will build on our complementary strengths in unmanned underwater systems and take the next step into the future,” Henriksen added. The companies said the partnership will create stronger interoperability between manned and unmanned underwater platforms. From left: Sergio Cappelletti Drass CEO, Antonio Tajani Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, Cecilie Myrseth Minister of Trade and Industry, Espen Henriksen SVP Uncrewed Platforms KONGSBERG. “These jointly developed solutions will create an integration bridge between DRASS’s compact submarines and manned underwater systems, and KONGSBERG’s unmanned surface vehicles and conventional UUVs,” said Sergio Cappelletti, CEO of DRASS. He added that combining technologies from both companies will accelerate the development of interoperable underwater platfor