The two have joined forces to present a drone detection system
Kongsberg Discovery and Aker Solutions have collaborated to introduce a drone detection system in Stavanger, utilising Kongsberg's Drone Detection Radar
This is the start of a wider rollout of infrastructure products in the North Sea, hoping to improve situational awareness around offshore assets and transit lanes.
Kongsberg Discovery is a developer of subsurface, acoustic, navigation, and marine robotics systems, including AUVs and USVs. The company has designed technology for navigation and infrastructure protection, offering Drone Detection Radar, Mobile Broadband Radio, integrated camera systems, and acoustic solutions for subsea monitoring and surveillance.
Aker Solutions provides integrated energy solutions to enable low-carbon oil and gas and enhance renewables such as offshore wind, CCS, and hydrogen.
Kongsberg Discovery and Aker Solutions intend to implement the drone detection systems in phases, with the first phase being a demonstrator at Aker Solutions' Stavanger site, which will be exhibited to potential customers. Next, the system will be deployed offshore and gradually expanded with camera clusters and underwater sensors to improve situational awareness.
Joachim Hovland, head of Drones and Robotics in Aker Solutions, said, “This collaboration marks the beginning of a scalable solution to enhance situational awareness at critical infrastructure, offshore and onshore. By combining Kongsberg Discovery’s technology expertise with Aker Solutions’ integration and domain knowledge, we are setting a new standard for safety and security at sea.”
Later phases involve the installation on supply vessels, integration with offshore control centres, a wider rollout to rigs and vessels, and then expansion to other countries. Aker Solutions is acting as a system integrator and Kongsberg Discovery as the sub-supplier, with the demonstrator available for joint customer presentations.
Cato Giil Eliassen, VP Infrastructure in Kongsberg Discovery, said, “There have been many observations of drones close to critical infrastructure in the last couple of years. Few are properly documented. This cooperation between Aker Solutions and Kongsberg Discovery will provide the end customer with proper tools to monitor, record and document illegal, as well as legal, UAV activity around installations.”
