Role & capabilities
- Underwater inspection
- EOD support
- Primary domain
- Underwater
- System type
- Remotely operated underwater vehicle
- Developer / manufacturer
- Saab
- Origin / production countries
- Sweden
- Other names
- No additional names recorded
- Variants / configurations
- Not distinguished in reviewed sources
- Operators / programme customers
- United States CTTSO — prototype recipient
Evidence & current status
Historical prototype deliveries are documented by the manufacturer. Current fleet numbers and customer-specific fits were not established.
Sea Wasp is a compact remotely operated underwater vehicle developed for close inspection in ports and other confined waterways. An electrical and optical tether supplies power and communication. Cameras, lights, sonar and navigation sensors support remote observation, while a manipulator accommodates specialised tools.
Saab states that the programme began in 2014 for a US government requirement and that three prototype systems were delivered to the Combat Terrorism Technical Support Office by the end of 2015. This provides a concrete historical customer relationship without establishing the size or readiness of any present fleet.
The 2021 manufacturer account remains the technical baseline used here. Its limits should not be transferred to other Saab vehicles, and tether length should not be mistaken for independent AUV endurance. The profile covers the reusable robot and its inspection role; the exact tools fitted to an individual customer's system need separate confirmation.
Sourced specifications
Figures apply to the named configuration. Maximum values are not guaranteed operating performance.
| Specification | Reported value | Context & source |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration | Not established in the reviewed public sources. | Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted. Source ↗ |
| Hull / propulsion | Not established in the reviewed public sources. | Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted. Source ↗ |
| Dimensions | Not established in the reviewed public sources. | Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted. Source ↗ |
| Displacement / mass | 75 kg basic vehicle | Configuration-specific published baseline; installed equipment and conditions can alter performance. Source ↗ |
| Payload | Not established in the reviewed public sources. | Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted. Source ↗ |
| Endurance | Not established in the reviewed public sources. | Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted. Source ↗ |
| Range | Not established in the reviewed public sources. | Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted. Source ↗ |
| Speed | Just over 2.5 knots | Configuration-specific published baseline; installed equipment and conditions can alter performance. Source ↗ |
| Operating depth | 150 m | Configuration-specific published baseline; installed equipment and conditions can alter performance. Source ↗ |
| Sensors | Cameras, lights, sonar, DVL and inertial sensing | Configuration-specific published baseline; installed equipment and conditions can alter performance. Source ↗ |
| Communications / control | Electrical/optical tether for power and communication | Configuration-specific published baseline; installed equipment and conditions can alter performance. Source ↗ |
| Launch / deployment | Not established in the reviewed public sources. | Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted. Source ↗ |
Publication history
- — Added in the September 2026 global coverage review, with sources, configuration limits and explicit data gaps.
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Follow the evidence
Source types identify who makes the claim. Programme milestones and supplier statements should be read in context.