> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.adriadefense.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Latvia’s SUBmerge Baltic Scales Underwater Drone Production - URL: https://www.adriadefense.com/latvias-submerge-baltic-scales-underwater-drone-production/ - Published: 2026-08-18T11:35:44.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-18T11:35:44.000Z - Description: Latvia’s SUBmerge Baltic plans to produce 20-30 underwater drones in 2026 and about 100 in 2027 for infrastructure, security and defense missions. - Author: C.P. - Tags: Latvia, Startups, SUBMerge, CEE, Drones, Underwater Drones, Industry Latvian defense technology startup SUBmerge Baltic plans to produce 20-30 underwater drones in 2026 and increase output to about 100 units in 2027 as it moves from development into commercialization. The autonomous systems target critical underwater infrastructure inspection, port security, hydrography, mine clearance and other maritime defense and civilian missions. The Riga-based company is pursuing customers in Europe, the United States and the Middle East while expanding activity in Ukraine and the Caspian Sea region. Its production plans add an industrial dimension to Latvia’s growing role in unmanned systems, extending the country’s defense technology base from aerial and ground platforms into the underwater domain. ## SUBmerge Baltic targets 100 underwater drones in 2027 SUBmerge Baltic currently employs 13 people and organizes production through external partners while retaining responsibility for technology development, testing and quality control. The company expects to manufacture 20-30 drones this year before raising annual production to approximately 100 units in 2027, according to the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia. Over the next three years, SUBmerge Baltic aims to have its technology operating in at least 200 robotic systems. Europe, the United States and the Middle East are its principal target markets, with Asia identified as a potential longer-term market. The company emerged from the Riga Technical University ecosystem and has been developing underwater systems since the early 2020s. Its technology has now progressed beyond research and development, with systems undergoing testing and implementation with initial customers in Latvia and international markets. A central part of the company’s approach is reducing the cost of underwater navigation. Unlike aerial or surface drones, autonomous underwater vehicles cannot rely on Global Positioning System signals while submerged, increasing their dependence on inertial navigation, acoustic systems and other sensors. SUBmerge Baltic says its internally developed navigation sensors, algorithms and calibration methods can reduce the cost of navigation sensors by as much as five times. The company is using that approach to lower overall platform costs and make production easier to scale. ## Baltic Sea infrastructure creates demand for autonomous systems The commercial push comes as European governments and armed forces place greater emphasis on protecting subsea cables, energy connections and other maritime infrastructure. For Baltic states, the requirement is particularly relevant because communications and energy infrastructure crosses a relatively confined maritime environment shared by NATO members and Russia. Autonomous underwater systems can support persistent inspection and help operators examine long stretches of infrastructure without relying exclusively on crewed vessels. SUBmerge Baltic is positioning its systems for both civilian and security users. Identified applications include underwater cable inspection, port surveys, hydrographic measurements and offshore energy infrastructure inspection, alongside reconnaissance, mine clearance, search and rescue and port security missions. The company has also developed a high-precision underwater physics simulator with support from an innovation voucher provided by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia. The simulator allows developers to test autonomous missions and identify software problems before conducting physical trials in water, and SUBmerge Baltic is considering developing the technology into a separate training product for drone operators. ## Sign up for AdriaDefense – CEE & SEE Defense News, Analysis Daily defense news, analysis and industry intelligence from Central and Eastern Europe and Southeast Europe. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ## Ukraine and Naval Group partnerships expand the program Ukraine is emerging as an important operational and development market. SUBmerge Baltic has established a representative office there and is working with Ukrainian partners on mine clearance and infrastructure inspection, with plans to increase the number of deployed drones by the end of 2026\. In March 2026, SUBmerge Baltic and Ukrainian defense technology manufacturer Roboneers signed a cooperation memorandum covering distribution, partial manufacturing in Ukraine, electronics and software integration and joint development of maritime products. SUBmerge Baltic planned to supply tethered underwater drones first, followed by autonomous platforms during the second half of 2026\. The Latvian company has also moved toward integration with a major European naval supplier. In July 2026, SUBmerge Baltic and France’s Naval Group signed a memorandum in Riga covering autonomous underwater systems and integration solutions. A central element of that cooperation is the planned integration of SUBmerge Baltic autonomous underwater drones with Naval Group’s Steeris unmanned platform management and mission-control system. The relationship could give the Latvian company a route into a wider European naval ecosystem while allowing Naval Group to evaluate a smaller autonomous underwater platform developed within NATO’s northeastern technology base. SUBmerge Baltic had raised more than €2.6 million by March 2026 from Scalewolf, Unmanned.vc, A-Green Fund and Buildit, together with Latvian and European Union support programs. Earlier reporting also identified cooperation with specialists from the Latvian National Armed Forces and discussions with Latvia’s Ministry of Defense over potential equipment supply. The next test for the company will be converting demonstrations, partnerships and prototype development into repeat production. Reaching approximately 100 units in 2027 would represent a significant increase from the 20-30 drones planned for 2026 and provide an early indication of whether Latvia can establish an export-oriented industrial position in autonomous underwater systems. --- ## SUBmerge Baltic underwater drones: key questions ### What is SUBmerge Baltic developing? SUBmerge Baltic develops autonomous underwater drones, navigation technology and software for infrastructure inspection, hydrography, port security, mine clearance and other civilian and defense missions. The company also develops autonomous control technology that can be integrated into other robotic systems. ### How many underwater drones does SUBmerge Baltic plan to produce? SUBmerge Baltic plans to manufacture 20-30 underwater drones in 2026 and increase production to approximately 100 units in 2027\. Its three-year target is to have its technology deployed across at least 200 robotic systems. ### Where will SUBmerge Baltic sell its underwater drones? The company identifies Europe, the United States and the Middle East as its principal target markets. It is also developing projects in Ukraine and the Caspian Sea region and sees Asia as a potential future market. ### Is SUBmerge Baltic working with larger defense companies? Yes. SUBmerge Baltic signed a memorandum with France’s Naval Group in July 2026 covering autonomous underwater systems, including planned integration with Naval Group’s Steeris mission-management technology. It also has a cooperation agreement with Ukraine’s Roboneers.