Indra Leads EU’s Smaug Project to Enhance Underwater Threat Detection

Indra is leading the European SMAUG (Smart Maritime and Underwater Guardian) project to enhance underwater threat detection at ports and maritime borders using artificial intelligence (AI), hydrophones, high-resolution sonar, autonomous underwater robots, and command and control software.

The project, funded under the European Union’s Horizon Europe program, aims to improve maritime security and strengthen international cooperation against illicit activities.

The SMAUG project addresses security concerns as over 80% of global trade is conducted by sea, requiring robust monitoring of legal and illegal activities at ports, coastal areas, and maritime borders. Geopolitical tensions have increased the need for protection of critical maritime infrastructure. The system, based on Indra’s iSIM solution, combines security management, underwater detection, and vessel surveillance to detect illegal or harmful movements.

Underwater threats are detected through multiple methods, including acoustic detection with hydrophones that monitor sounds from small autonomous underwater vehicles, sonar scans of ship hulls and harbor floors for anomalies, high-resolution sonar inspections to identify objects in low-visibility waters, and swarm-based autonomous location, where multiple underwater drones operate in coordination. These systems, supported by AI, enhance the ability to detect illicit cargo, narco-submarines, and other underwater threats. Indra provides AI algorithms for early threat detection and integrates data from hydrophones, underwater scanners, autonomous vehicles, drones, and satellites into a single security platform.

With a budget of nearly €6 million, SMAUG involves 22 partners from Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, and Spain, including universities, law enforcement agencies, coast guards, and private organizations. The project will also integrate with the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE) to improve EU-wide maritime surveillance.