KONGSBERG, NORWAY — Norwegian defense technology company Kongsberg Gruppen ASA has received a $54 million contract modification from the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to deliver autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and related equipment. The company announced the award on October 29, 2026.
The modification is part of an existing Prototype Other Transaction Agreement between Kongsberg and the U.S. government. It covers a range of autonomous underwater vehicles and related underwater capability components, rather than a single vehicle model.
Kongsberg Expands US Underwater Defense Cooperation
Kongsberg CEO Eirik Lie said the contract continues the company's collaboration with the DIU and the U.S. Navy. He said the award reflects confidence in Kongsberg's autonomous underwater technology and its ability to deliver reliable systems for demanding operational environments.
The company has more than 30 years of experience developing autonomous underwater systems for defense and commercial customers. Its HUGIN family of vehicles has been used for seabed mapping, survey work, mine countermeasures and other underwater missions.
Kongsberg Executive Vice President and Discovery division President Camilla Kiss said advances in artificial intelligence, edge processing and autonomy are enabling underwater platforms to conduct increasingly complex missions with greater operational effectiveness and endurance.
Kiss also said Kongsberg has signed AUV contracts worth NOK 1.7 billion across defense and commercial markets so far in 2026, supporting its plans to expand in undersea warfare.
Earlier Contracts with the US Navy
The latest award builds on Kongsberg's earlier cooperation with the DIU. In 2024, the DIU awarded prototype agreements that included Kongsberg Discovery for large-diameter uncrewed underwater vehicle development with the U.S. Navy.
The first HUGIN Superior system under that effort completed acceptance testing in Norway in early 2025 before being delivered for U.S. Navy use.
In July 2026, the DIU also selected Kongsberg alongside Oceaneering International to support the Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform (CAMP) program. The initiative focuses on developing an extra-large uncrewed undersea vehicle (XLUUV) for future U.S. Navy missions.
The latest $54 million contract modification does not specify vehicle models, quantities or delivery schedules. The award was announced alongside Kongsberg's third-quarter 2026 results, which reported a strong order backlog.
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