Fincantieri launches subsea drone network amid security fears

Known as ‘DEEP’, the system was demonstrated at the Naval Support and Experimentation Centre in La Spezia last week. It combines autonomous underwater vehicles, AI-driven data analysis and an early-warning sensor network that is connected to an onahore control hub.

It is a modular system that can deploy AUVs with different levels of autonomy for reconnaissance and intervention tasks, with the hub providing live mission management. The shipbuilder sees it as an answer to recent subsea cable sabotage claims and concerns over sensitive underwater assets.

“The system was designed from the outset with a dual purpose, capable of responding to both civil needs and defence and security applications. This versatility allows DEEP to operate in diverse contexts, offering high value-added solutions for environmental and infrastructure protection, as well as operational support,” says the company.

”Today, the underwater domain is a key area for security, energy, environmental monitoring and underwater communications, with a global reference market estimated at around €50 billion a year and an accessible component for Fincantieri of about €22 billion annually. Fincantieri aims to be a leading player in the development of this new strategic infrastructure, leveraging its ability to integrate complex expertise and high-tech industrial assets.”

”Today we have validated an integrated unmanned underwater drone system that represents an innovative and concrete solution to the challenge of protecting critical infrastructure by using the best technologies available,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri. “This achievement is the result of the work of an outstanding industrial supply chain that enables us to anticipate market needs and position ourselves for the future. We are proud to lead this transformation, which makes a real contribution to the security, growth, competitiveness and technological autonomy of our national system, while also projecting us toward global leadership in the underwater economy.”