Norwegians secures major underwater drone contract

A contract extension adds to a growing portfolio of autonomous underwater vehicle orders as the Norwegian group expands its presence in underwater warfare

By Kevin Landor Laursen

October 29, 2026 7:34 AM

Kongsberg has secured a USD 54 million contract extension for the delivery of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and associated equipment to the US military.

The agreement was awarded by the US Department of Defense's Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), according to a company announcement published Thursday.

The contract builds on Kongsberg's existing cooperation with DIU and the US Navy and covers a broad range of autonomous underwater systems.

The Norwegian group has now secured AUV contracts worth a combined NOK 1.7 billion across military and commercial markets so far in 2026.

Kongsberg sees underwater warfare as a strategic growth area, with advances in artificial intelligence and autonomous technology allowing underwater vehicles to carry out increasingly complex missions.

The company has more than 30 years of experience developing autonomous underwater systems and is seeking to expand its position in the growing market.

The announcement coincides with Kongsberg's third-quarter results, which showed sharply higher earnings and a record order backlog.

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