In a bold move that could redefine the landscape of maritime security, European defense technology company Helsing has launched a groundbreaking underwater surveillance system that merges artificial intelligence with autonomous glider technology. The platform is poised to change how navies protect critical underwater infrastructure, monitor hostile activity, and conduct anti-submarine warfare (ASW).
The new solution comprises two key components: Lura, an AI-powered software engine based on advanced acoustic modeling, and SG-1 Fathom, an autonomous underwater glider that can patrol the seas for up to three months without human intervention. Together, they create what Helsing describes as a “distributed, intelligent sensor network,” offering persistent, cost-efficient, and scalable underwater monitoring — capabilities that are increasingly critical in today’s contested maritime domains.
Traditional anti-submarine warfare operations rely on expensive crewed vessels, sonobuoys, and aircraft that operate in relatively short bursts and require extensive logistical support. These legacy systems face challenges ranging from limited endurance to high operating costs. Helsing’s platform disrupts this model by delivering persistent, autonomous, and intelligent detection that operates silently below the surface — and at a fraction of the cost.
“Lura detects so our navies can deter,” said Dr. Gundbert Scherf, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Helsing. “We must harness new technologies to keep pace with the threats against our critical infrastructure, national waters, and way of life.”
Lura uses large-scale acoustic modeling combined with AI techniques similar to those found in large language models. The result is a system capable of identifying even the quietest submarines, detecting acoustic signatures up to ten times fainter than those recognized by conventional AI. It can also distinguish individual vessels within the same class and processes acoustic data up to 40 times faster than human operators — enabling real-time threat recognition and response.
The SG-1 Fathom glider serves as the platform’s mobile sensor. Shaped like a torpedo and built for endurance, the glider glides through water at varying depths using changes in buoyancy rather than propellers, rendering it extremely quiet — an essential trait for stealthy surveillance.
Each glider is equipped with a suite of sensors and an onboard instance of Lura, enabling edge-level data processing and adaptive mission behavior. What sets this approach apart is the ability to deploy dozens, even hundreds, of these gliders in coordinated patrols across contested or sensitive maritime regions. This creates a distributed network akin to a constellation of underwater satellites — monitoring the ocean in real-time, collecting vast amounts of acoustic and environmental data, and communicating insights back to command centers or edge nodes via satellite uplinks when surfaced.
“To protect ourselves from increasing threats, especially underwater, we must do defense differently,” said Amelia Gould, General Manager of Helsing Maritime. “Lura and SG-1 will form an ever-evolving mission cycle, learning from each deployment to iterate at the pace of the threat — a true 21st-century defense capability.”
The timing of Helsing’s announcement is no accident. Over the past decade, the underwater domain has become a renewed theater for geopolitical rivalry. From Russian submarine patrols in the North Atlantic to China’s undersea ambitions in the Indo-Pacific, NATO and its partners have flagged growing concerns about critical seabed infrastructure — including fiber optic cables, undersea pipelines, and offshore energy assets — being vulnerable to sabotage or surveillance.
This was underscored by recent incidents involving unexplained damage to gas pipelines and data cables in the Baltic and North Seas, heightening the urgency to monitor these zones proactively. Naval analysts have also pointed to the increased deployment of quieter, non-nuclear submarines and the proliferation of underwater drones as factors complicating traditional surveillance efforts.
Helsing’s technology offers a solution that is not only scalable and cost-efficient but also adaptable to rapidly changing threat environments. Whether it’s tracking an adversary’s sub in the Norwegian Sea, detecting unauthorized drones near a gas platform, or mapping new anomalies on the seabed, Lura and SG-1 promise to deliver.
The system was recently showcased in a live demonstration at HM Naval Base Portsmouth, where military representatives, defense contractors, and policymakers were invited to observe the glider in action and view Lura’s real-time acoustic classification capabilities.
According to participants, the gliders performed complex patrol patterns autonomously while Lura processed incoming data streams, detecting and classifying multiple simulated threats with a speed and accuracy far surpassing legacy systems.
Helsing isn’t doing this alone. The company is working with partners including QinetiQ, Ocean Infinity, and Blue Ocean Marine Tech Systems — bringing together expertise in robotics, seabed mapping, and naval technology integration.
These partnerships are aimed at rapidly operationalizing the platform, with Helsing expecting deployments within the next year across strategic maritime theaters, from the North Sea and Baltic Sea to contested zones in the Indo-Pacific.
In addition to military applications, the Lura + SG-1 system has potential for broader security and scientific roles — from environmental monitoring and underwater archaeology to disaster response and infrastructure assessment. However, Helsing is currently focused on addressing the pressing needs of NATO-aligned navies.
The firm offers two deployment models: navies can either purchase and operate the system directly or contract Helsing to provide it as a full-service solution — including deployment, maintenance, and data analysis.
This flexibility allows small and mid-sized navies to access world-class underwater monitoring without committing to the vast resources traditionally required for undersea surveillance.
Despite the promise, Helsing faces challenges. Autonomous underwater systems require robust communication infrastructure, which is complicated in a medium where radio signals don’t travel well. Satellite uplinks are only possible when the gliders surface, which limits real-time control. There are also legal and political considerations surrounding autonomous surveillance in international or disputed waters.
Nevertheless, Helsing’s offering reflects a broader shift in defense thinking: from reactive and static systems to agile, intelligent, and distributed ones that learn and adapt over time.
As geopolitical tensions simmer and critical infrastructure remains vulnerable beneath the waves, underwater domains are no longer “out of sight, out of mind.” In this high-stakes theater, Helsing’s AI-driven platform may well represent the next frontier of modern naval defense.
For decades, the undersea battlespace was the preserve of nuclear submarines and expensive sonar arrays. Today, that paradigm is shifting. AI, autonomy, and acoustic analytics are transforming oceans into a transparent domain — where silence is no longer safety and persistence is the new edge.
With the introduction of Lura and SG-1 Fathom, Helsing isn’t just offering a product — it’s signaling a new doctrine for maritime defense, one built on distributed intelligence, adaptability, and long-term endurance.
