Latvian Startup Unveils Innovative Underwater Drone

During the DSEI 2025 exhibition in London, Latvian startup SUBmerge Baltic unveiled its latest autonomous underwater vehicle, Pike. Army Recognition reports on this development.

This drone is designed for patrolling, mapping, and inspecting underwater scenarios near critical infrastructure sites. The marine drone can operate in both remotely controlled and fully autonomous modes, allowing it to inspect pipelines and cables underwater for potential damages.

In its controlled mode, the drone is capable of an eight-hour operational period with a range of several hundred meters, suitable for detailed inspections or operations within ports. The autonomous mode allows it to function for several days and cover distances of hundreds of kilometers, although this depends on weather conditions and payload type.

The Pike features a modular frame that enables sensor changes without necessitating a return to the factory. It is known to be powered by batteries, though specific performance characteristics have not been disclosed. Additionally, the underwater drone can be launched from a small boat or directly from a pier.

The publication emphasizes that underwater security issues have become a priority for NATO in light of recent incidents involving damaged cables and pipelines in the Baltic Sea. Thus, Pike may play a key role in defense frameworks.

While the drone alone cannot halt saboteurs or replace escort teams or satellite tracking, it can significantly reduce blind spots and lower the costs of routine inspections.

Earlier, the German company EUROATLAS introduced its underwater drone Greyshark, which comes in two variants and is capable of autonomously adapting its tasks using artificial intelligence.