Image: ThayerMahan
U.S. maritime security firm ThayerMahan has launched SeaGuard™, a non-kinetic defeat system built to neutralise Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (UUV) threats to ports, naval installations, and critical infrastructure — without explosives or harmful emissions.
The system enters the market as what ThayerMahan describes as the first fully mature, field-tested, and scalable counter-UUV defeat capability of its kind. According to ThayerMahan, SeaGuard is engineered to disrupt and defeat underwater threats across both military and commercial environments, covering deepwater ports, LNG terminals, naval facilities, and subsea cable landing stations.
Recent global incidents have underscored the asymmetric danger posed by UUVs. Low-cost, commercially accessible or locally developed systems have demonstrated the ability to penetrate defended harbours, close on high-value assets, and strike critical infrastructure — to significant effect. Traditional detection-only approaches are no longer sufficient as maritime environments grow more congested and contested.
“From my time in uniform to my role today, one truth has remained constant: the underwater domain evolves rapidly, and the threats evolve even faster,” said Vice Admiral Mike Connor, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Chairman and CEO of ThayerMahan. “SeaGuard is purpose-built to help operators stay ahead of that curve. It represents a leap forward in how we protect vital maritime assets from unmanned undersea threats — reliably, safely, and at scale.”
ThayerMahan states SeaGuard has been proven across multiple evaluated exercises. The system demonstrated repeatable defeat effects against UUVs and successfully deterred diver and swimmer intrusion. Independent technical assessments confirmed its endurance, maintainability, and mission-ready architecture. Chief Technology Officer Andy Meecham said SeaGuard achieved Technology Readiness Level 8+ performance — a benchmark indicating a system mature enough for real-world deployment. “It is the only system of its kind ready to deploy today,” he said.
SeaGuard is modular and scalable. It can pair with ThayerMahan’s existing acoustic intelligence platforms — TransparenSea®, SeaPicket®, and Outpost® — to form a full detect-to-defeat chain.
Dr. Kevin Lopes, CAPT USCG (Ret.) and Vice President of Marketing and Sales, said the system’s applicability extends well beyond naval bases. “SeaGuard gives government and commercial operators a proven, non-kinetic shield for the critical infrastructure our economy and national security rely on,” he said. “Operators no longer need to rely on detection alone or accept unnecessary risk.”
Christian Glander, President of ThayerMahan Offshore and also a retired Coast Guard Captain, stressed rapid deployment as a core capability. “Port security and homeland defence depend on timely, effective underwater protection, and we are ready now to support both missions,” he said.
The launch comes amid growing concern in Western defence circles over UUV proliferation. State and non-state actors have increasingly fielded underwater drones capable of surveillance, mine-laying, and infrastructure sabotage, accelerating demand for credible defeat — not merely detection — solutions.
ThayerMahan’s emphasis on non-kinetic defeat positions SeaGuard for use in both military and sensitive civilian environments, where collateral damage from explosive countermeasures would be unacceptable. The company maintains offices in Groton, CT, Lowell, MA, and Arlington, VA.
Source: Thayermahan Press Release