Firms Team Up To Sharpen Speartooth's Senses

C2 Robotics and Thales Australia are teaming up to incorporate the French multinational defence firm's sensor technology into the Australian company's Speartooth Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (LUUV).

As per a recent company press statement, Thales Australia’s locally developed sonar systems will boost Speartooth’s ability to navigate autonomously across long distances, helping C2 Robotics to deliver an affordable, long-range platform which can be locally produced at scale.

The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has backed C2 Robotics — a Melbourne-based firm specialisiing in autonomous systems and artificial intelligence — with a series of grants to help it develop Speartooth.

The first prototype of the LUUV entered the water almost two years ago; a 2023 funding award helped the firm produce Generation 2 vessels, and a further grant in January of this year will see the company working towards having the LUUV system achieve operational readiness.

The LUUV has a modular design and twin large customisable payload bays. It can move through the water via both direct propeller propulsion and variable buoyancy systems. It is 8 metres long and has a 1-metre beam. It can operate autonomously and features sonar mapping capabilities. The Speartooth LUUV was among the assets which took part in the Royal Australian Navy’s recent Exercise Autonomous Warrior 2024 in Jervis Bay this month.

Dr Tom Loveard, Chief Technology Officer of C2 Robotics, commented: “Collaborating with Thales, whose proficiency in sonar and acoustic payloads is world-renowned, has the potential to accelerate Speartooth’s capabilities and footprint on an AUKUS stage.” 

And Troy Stephen, Vice President Underwater Systems, Thales Australia and New Zealand, added: “This exciting partnership represents a significant opportunity to develop Australia’s sovereign autonomous maritime capability by leveraging the expertise of an innovative Australian SME.

"C2 Robotics have been collaborating with Navy for several years on Speartooth and in that time they have demonstrated the maturity of the vessel. We are very pleased to be able to support C2 Robotics’ focus on manufacturing scalability and their speed-to-capability ethos.”

• You can read more details on the Thales website and the C2 Robotics website