Saab’s Autonomous Swarm technology used in landmark AUKUS trial

November 8, 2024

Saab’s Autonomous Swarm technology recently featured in the ground-breaking Project Convergence 2024 trials, consisting of one month in the United States. A large UK team, comprising 40 employees from Saab-owned BlueBear and UK MOD Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) personnel, demonstrated the ability to deploy interoperable AI within Autonomous Swarms of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS).

AUKUS, a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, held trials that demonstrated the pivotal role of BlueBear’s technology in collaborative, networked, swarms of UAS. BlueBear’s AI enabled Centurion™ mission system provided the ability for a single operator to command a diverse swarm of autonomous UAS.

At the core of BlueBear’s AI-enabled autonomy solution is the ability to ‘hot-swap’ AI from any supplier in an autonomous systems-of-systems. This technology is key to unlocking the game-changing potential of deployed networked sensors and effectors in an integrated multi-domain battlefield.

BlueBear’s RedKite and Ghost UAS, were used in tandem with Centurion™, by the tri-nation AUKUS team to rapidly retrain and deploy AI algorithms, that enabled the payloads and UASs.

Andy Fraser, Group Managing Director, Saab UK said:

“The AUKUS trials marks a significant increase in our ability to interoperate with allied nations, both at mission and core technology levels. Significant investment from both the UK Government and Saab’s BlueBear have allowed us to collectively mature and de-risk high-value technologies that are imperative in modern warfare.”

The AUKUS trial was the culmination of Autonomy and Open Architecture work consistently funded by Dstl over two decades. Find additional details of the trials on gov.uk.

Saab acquired BlueBear in August 2023, as its rapid capability accelerator innovating new technologies and integrating them across Saab’s portfolio.

Saab UK Notes to Editors

• Saab is a leading defence and security company with an enduring mission, to help nations keep their people and society safe. Empowered by its 22,000 talented people,Saab constantly pushes the boundaries of technology to create a safer and more sustainable world. Saab designs, manufactures and maintains advanced systems in aeronautics, weapons, command and control, sensors and underwater systems. Saab is headquartered in Sweden. It has major operations all over the world and is part of the domestic defence capability of several nations.
• Saab UK Ltd is a legal entity of Saab AB encompassing its business operations in the United Kingdom.
• Saab has been active as a leading defence company in the UK since 1966 with our Ltd company incorporated in 1983. From air to land and sea, Saab provides civil, defence and security technologies that keep Britain safe.
• Our activities include: “BlueBear – a Saab company” located in Bedford, Training and simulation based in Wiltshire and present across the country; Seaeye and Sensor Solutions in Fareham; Public Safety Solutions in Hull; a Technology Centre in Farnborough and Headquarters in London.
• Saab’s UK supply chain is made up of nearly 1,000 of the best companies in the industry, across the length and breadth of the country – from prime contractors to SMEs. Through partnerships and direct employment, we support thousands of jobs and contribute to society and the economy.

ContactNicolas Clark-MajerusDirector of UK Corporate Affairs+44 (0)7856 001 858 nicolas.clark@saabgroup.comwww.saab.com/UK