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Kongsberg
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Kongsberg

Norwegian defence and maritime group; lead supplier in Europe's AUKUS Pillar II undersea-warfare bid.

On 15 July, Kongsberg Discovery won a US Defence Innovation Unit design contract for an extra-large uncrewed submarine, extending the Norwegian group’s push into the underwater-vehicle market.

Last refreshed: 1 October 2026 · Appears in 2 active topics

Key Question

Can Norway's HUGIN drones break into the AUKUS seabed programme US firms claimed on 30 May?

Timeline for Kongsberg

#19 13 Oct

Committed over 200m zlotys to a counter-drone plant

Drones: Industry & Defence: Kongsberg to make SAN systems in Poland
#13 29 Sept

Mentioned in: US Navy buys 30 robot boats from 3 yards

Autonomous Systems: Land & Sea
#13 14 Sept

Mentioned in: Belgium buys Exail mine kit for Ukraine

Autonomous Systems: Land & Sea
#18 4 Sept

Agreed to fit Protector stations to Dutch army vehicles

Drones: Industry & Defence: Dutch buy six Elisra drone interceptors
#12 31 Aug

Reported the at-sea trials

Autonomous Systems: Land & Sea: Kongsberg trials a sonar with no hull
View full timeline →
Follow Autonomous Systems: Land & Sea →Follow Drones: Industry & Defence →

Background

Kongsberg is a Norwegian defence and maritime technology group. Its Kongsberg Discovery business supplies HUGIN autonomous underwater vehicles, sonar and related subsea systems, while the wider group also makes Protector remote weapon stations. On 29 September, Kongsberg said it would fit Protector stations to Dutch army vehicles through Oshkosh Defense Europe.

The group’s undersea work combines vehicles, sensors and monitoring systems. On 31 August, Kongsberg reported an at-sea trial of HISAS2020 sonar on a HUGIN Edge vehicle, showing the company develops both the vehicle and its sensing payload.

Kongsberg also sells subsea protection systems for infrastructure. On 3 July, it described a system combining sonar, cameras and C-Scope software to monitor offshore platforms, cables, pipelines, ports and energy grids, with HUGIN available for inspection.

Key Issues
Undersea procurement

Kongsberg enters America’s drone-sub contest

On 8 June, Kongsberg and Italian submarine builder DRASS announced an AUKUS Pillar II bid pairing a Kongsberg underwater vehicle with a compact submarine designed to carry three. The move placed Kongsberg in Europe’s public answer to US-built vehicles named on 30 May.

On 15 July, the US Defence Innovation Unit selected Kongsberg Discovery and Oceaneering International to design an extra-large uncrewed submarine, with concept plans due in the third quarter of 2026. For Kongsberg, the decision opened a US procurement route while its European bid pursued the same underwater-vehicle market.

Common Questions

Kongsberg enters America’s drone-sub contest

Did Kongsberg sign any new commercial deals in July 2026?
Yes. In the same fortnight as its US Navy CAMP selection, Kongsberg Discovery signed a Main Supplier agreement with survey group Fugro and logged a HUGIN autonomous underwater vehicle order from Norwegian firm DOF through subsidiary Kongsberg Listen.Source: Lowdown
What is the CAMP undersea vehicle Kongsberg is designing for the US Navy?
CAMP is the US Defense Innovation Unit's Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform programme for an extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle. On 15 July 2026 the DIU selected Kongsberg Discovery, partnered with Oceaneering International, to design it, with concept and system work due in Q3 2026.Source: Lowdown
What subsea-infrastructure contract did Kongsberg win in July 2026?
Kongsberg Discovery won an undisclosed international contract on 3 July 2026 to protect offshore platforms, subsea cables, pipelines, ports and energy grids, using fused sonar, cameras and its C-Scope command software.Source: pipeline
Why does NATO trust Kongsberg's AUVs for seabed surveillance?
The HUGIN family has been qualified as a NATO mine-countermeasures payload on 14 separate allied programmes since 2003. Norway's defence-industrial relationship with the US also gives HUGIN preferential access to ITAR-controlled components, simplifying integration with allied systems.Source: NATO ACT Innovation Hub assessment
Did Kongsberg win any AUKUS contract?
No. As of June 2026 the Kongsberg-DRASS partnership disclosed only intent to target AUKUS Pillar II procurement from 2027; no financial terms, customer commitment or signed agreement was announced.Source: Tech Times
What is Kongsberg's HUGIN AUV and why is it in the AUKUS bid?
HUGIN is Kongsberg's family of long-range autonomous underwater vehicles. The HUGIN Superior variant, paired with the HISAS 1032 synthetic-aperture sonar, forms the core of a Norwegian-Italian bid for AUKUS Pillar II seabed-warfare procurement announced at ILA Berlin on 8 June 2026.Source: Tech Times / Kongsberg press release

Reference

What is the Kongsberg HUGIN vehicle?
HUGIN is an autonomous underwater vehicle for commercial, scientific and defence data collection.Source: https://www.kongsberg.com/discovery/autonomous-and-uncrewed-solutions/auv/hugin/
Who owns Kongsberg Discovery AS?
Kongsberg Discovery AS is a wholly owned company of Kongsberg Gruppen ASA.Source: https://www.kongsberg.com/about-us/management-and-organisation/group-companies/
What does Kongsberg do?
Kongsberg is a Norwegian technology group serving defence, security, ocean and space markets.Source: https://www.kongsberg.com/about-us/
How does Kongsberg's maritime division make money?
Kongsberg Discovery (formerly Kongsberg Maritime) generates revenue through autonomous underwater vehicles, subsea sensors, ocean-data systems and offshore energy technology. The division reported 8.1bn Norwegian kroner in revenue for 2025, with autonomous systems growing at around 18% annually.Source: Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace Annual Report 2025
Why did Denmark select Kongsberg Discovery AS?
A Danish procurement notice identifies it as the supplier for an autonomous underwater vehicle system for Norwind Helm.Source: https://www.evergabe.com/en/tenders/anskaffelse-af-undervandsdroner-auv-system-2413469/
Source Material
Danish procurement notice for underwater vehiclesHUGIN autonomous underwater vehicleThis is KONGSBERG

Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 1 October 2026. Editorial standards.