Defence Australia has announced it will be buying 40 additional Ocius Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) to boost its undersea security.
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) already operates 15 of the hybrid solar/wind/wave-propelled drone boats, most of which currently provide maritime surveillance in Australia’s northern waters under Operation Resolute.
Now Australia’s Albanese Government has revealed a new deal worth A$176 million (about £94 million) to acquire 40 more of the USVs, to be built at Ocius’s new factory in Sydney. The new drones are set to be supplied over the course of the next five years.
The USVs are just under 7m long and designed to provide extended endurance long-range surface and sub-surface intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. They have a payload capacity of up to 600kg.
As well as deploying a towed sonar array and using its own surface sensors, the USV can launch uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), and connect with uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs), surface ships and satellites for data transmission.
The brand of towed sonar array to be deployed has not been specified, but Thales Australia has previously partnered with the firm, equipping the USVs with its Blue Sentry system.
As per Ocius: “The Bluebottle is a groundbreaking Australian-designed USV powered by solar, wind and wave energy enabling long-endurance operations while maintaining an acoustically quiet environment for superior underwater surveillance.
“The Bluebottle’s patented design allows it to operate across Australia’s vast maritime domain while carrying sophisticated payloads, providing continuous low- observable surface and subsurface ISR capability.
“Bluebottle USVs work in a teamed environment with other undersea and surface assets, creating an interoperable suite of capabilities for an integrated force.”
Ocius Technology CEO Robert Dane commented: “This contract represents a major milestone for the company and for Australia’s sovereign maritime technology sector… These Bluebottles are like ‘satellites of the sea’, delivering ISR capabilities that keep constant watch over and under our oceans at disruptively low cost.”
And Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles added: “The Bluebottle is an innovative platform designed, developed and manufactured right here in Australia. This is an excellent example of Defence and industry working together to deliver cutting-edge capability.
“The Albanese Government’s investment in Ocius Technology and their Bluebottle USV has accelerated the delivery of the autonomous systems for Navy.”
- You can read more details on the Defence Australia website and the Ocius website