Kongsberg and Aker unveil drone detection system

Kongsberg Discovery and Aker Solutions have demonstrated a drone detection system in Stavanger. Kongsberg’s Drone Detection Radar heralds the start of a series of infrastructure products relating to security and situational awareness in the North Sea.

The companies plan to introduce the drone detection system in stages for the benefit of potential customers, starting with a demonstrator at Aker Solutions in Stavanger. The setup will then be deployed offshore and equipped with camera clusters and underwater sensors to improve monitoring parameters.

In later stages, the detection technology will be installed on supply vessels and integrated with control centres ashore. Then a broader rollout will include offshore rig installations and expansion to other regions.

Joachim Hovland, head of Drones and Robotics at 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.”

Kongsberg Discovery’s Cato Giil Eliassen, vice president, Infrastructure, stressed the requirement for drone detection to assist in the protection of critical infrastructure. “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.”