Perseo

SAES is dedicated to sustainable innovation in underwater technology

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Within its commitment to sustainable technology, SAES is establishing strategic alliances and has recently presented its renewed brand narrative. Through its initiative to protect marine environments and the development of unmanned underwater vehicles for both the civilian and defence sectors, SAES is reinforcing its leadership in underwater technology for a more secure and sustainable world.

SAES (Underwater Acoustics and Electronics Systems) presented its new corporate image at the latest International Defence and Security Exhibition (Feindef), held in Madrid from 17th to 19th May with enormous participation at national as well as international level. The company reinforces its leadership as a firm specialising in underwater technology and protection, in both the defence and security sector as well as the environmental one. In the words of its CEO, Joaquín López Pagán, it represents “a turning point after 34 years working as a public company that has encouraged us to continue contributing with the utmost commitment to the defence and security technology industry of our country”.

SAES has renewed its brand narrative in order to show its dual-use capabilities and technology (for the defence and civilian sectors) in signature processing by means of sonar, acoustic intelligence systems, measuring and intelligence of signatures, security and surveillance systems for critical infrastructures such as harbours, thermal electric power stations, refineries, offshore wind farms, etc.

Collaboration agreements

In its initiative to establish strategic alliances, SAES has recently signed collaboration agreements with other companies, amongst which special mention should be made of those reached with the Marine Technology Centre (CTN) and with SH Defence.

The agreement signed between SAES and the Marine Technology Centre (CTN) brings together the efforts of both organisations in working towards sustainable technological innovation in the naval sector and in maritime environmental protection. Both companies will work together in tackling issues of acoustic contamination in maritime environments, in developing technologies for sustainable digital transformation of the naval sector, and to face the challenges of the maritime industry, while always considering the protection of seas and oceans.

In this sense, SAES will contribute its technological capacity, its knowledge and talent to delve into its sustainability strategy, focusing on protecting maritime environments and cooperating in the development of products that reduce acoustic and electromagnetic contamination in seas and oceans. This collaboration with CTN will enable SAES to broaden its vision of innovating, developing, and protecting, adding value in matters of environmental protection to its business activity.

SAES has also signed a collaboration agreement with SH Defence to work together in integrating SAES mine systems with SH Defence deployment units.

Open innovation

SAES collaborates with universities, technological centres, and other companies in its process of open innovation, driving a virtuous circle of innovation.

The company works on cutting-edge projects such as new-generation unmanned underwater vehicles and collaboration in the fight against acoustic contamination in marine environments.

Feindef 2023 was the setting chosen by Navantia, SAES and Perseo Techworks to present one of the most innovative projects, the development of a line of unmanned underwater vehicles with latest generation sensors. This project seeks to deploy exploration and surveillance capabilities in increasingly demanding settings.

SAES will contribute its experience in sonar technology, underwater communications, and operational concepts to provide tactical and mission capacity to the unmanned vehicles. The collaboration between the three companies will drive innovation in the field of autonomous underwater vehicles, offering more secure and economical solutions for defence missions and civilian applications.

This open innovation is key to attracting and retaining talent, as well as for compliance with the SAES sustainability strategy.

The new corporate image and new brand narrative of SAES, within the framework of the company’s modernisation process which began last year, defend the common task of innovation, developing, and protecting.

SAES means innovation for a more secure world.

Navantia, SAES, and Perseo commit to developing a line of unmanned underwater vehicles

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Navantia, SAES, and Perseo have announced during the FEINDEF (defence and security exhibition) their intention to develop a line of unmanned underwater vehicles equipped with state-of-the-art sensors to deploy exploration and surveillance capabilities in increasingly demanding operational theatres.

Navantia has launched a roadmap to incorporate a range of solutions based on unmanned vehicles (UXV) into its product catalogue, aiming to cover the full spectrum of missions to be executed in different domains: naval, aerial, and land, where these platforms provide tactical superiority. This roadmap is part of the company’s Horizon 5.0, a long-term plan through which Navantia aims to strengthen its systems business as a core activity alongside shipbuilding, intelligent services, and green energies.

In the submarine domain, SAES, a leading company in underwater acoustics and electronics with nearly 35 years of experience in developing technologies in this field, positions itself as one of the main national players to provide tactical and mission capabilities to unmanned vehicles (UXVs) based on its expertise in sonar technology, underwater communications, and operational concepts for various missions. SAES, whose essence and strategy are summarised in its new brand “innovate, develop, and protect”, approaches this field from two perspectives: collaborating in their development to make them truly autonomous and using them in conjunction with other proprietary systems to provide submarine defence solutions within the scope of its business lines.

Perseo Techworks, a Spanish company specialising in UXV, numerical simulation, onboard electronics, rapid prototyping, additive manufacturing, IoT, and artificial intelligence, has extensive knowledge and experience in the sector, participating in various European projects and R&D+i at the national level.

SAES and Perseo, together with Abance Ingeniería y Servicios, Arisnova, and Eolos Floating Lidar Solutions, participate in the E-PARK+ project, led by Navantia, which seeks to develop solutions for digitising the operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms using unmanned vehicles alongside other industry companies.

At FEINDEF, a UUV prototype with distinctive features that would allow it to cover a multitude of missions has been exhibited. This first approach is focused on its use in mine countermeasure (MCM) missions, although its possible application as an advanced sensor or loitering munition is being studied based on the same development and with few modifications.

Donato Martínez Pérez de Rojas, Director of Technologies and Digital Transformation and Systems and Services at Navantia, Joaquín López Pagán, President and CEO of SAES, and Sergio Olmos Guío, CEO of Perseo Techworks, have expressed their commitment to collaborate in promoting innovation in the field of autonomous underwater vehicles.

“Unmanned vehicles are an asset of growing importance for the armed forces and civilian applications. Navantia already has experience in the development of unmanned surface vessels (USV), and together with SAES and Perseo, we want to expand our catalogue to those intended for the submarine domain,” said Donato Martínez.

According to SAES President Joaquín López Pagán, “at SAES, we are committed to the development of sustainable technologies in the naval sector. Our experience in underwater acoustics and electronics positions us as one of the main players in providing autonomy to unmanned vehicles and collaborating in their development to make them truly autonomous. Moreover, as they do not require human crew members, these vehicles are a safer and more economical option for carrying out defence missions and civilian applications.”

“The development of unmanned systems requires specific technologies and working methodologies for competitive developments. Perseo Techworks works on these enabling technologies within a work scheme that allows for rapid iterations, in which simulation, rapid prototyping, and testing and trial capabilities are intertwined to create products with very short development times and adaptable to a constantly changing market,” says Sergio Olmos Guío.

Navantia, SAES, and Perseo commit to developing a line of unmanned underwater vehicles