DoD Looks for Advance Underwater Communication Solutions
The US Department of Defense (DoD) has announced funding opportunities as part of the AUKUS Maritime Innovation Challenge 2025 for commercial technologies to solve undersea and information warfare issues.As the second collaboration launched between the U.S.'s Defense Innovation Unit, Australia's Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator, and the UK's Defence and Security Accelerator, the Challenge is seeking commercial companies with solutions that will enhance the tactical and operational capabilities of undersea command, control and communications while maintaining the integrity and
AI Technology Targets Enhanced Naval Escort Safety
To ensure safe passage, high-value assets such as Navy aircraft carriers require escorts when entering or exiting crowded harbors. The Perception Autonomy for Vessel Escorts (PAVE) system from Charles River Analytics automates the process to reduce the number of people required and increase the speed for each mission.The company has now won a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract sponsored by the Naval Sea Systems Command which is worth up to $1.8M.While PAVE is not the first of its kind, current perception software for uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) are not able to conduct
First Dutch Navy Mine Countermeasure Vessel Starts Sea Trials
The Vlissingen, the second of the series of mine countermeasures vessels (MCM) of the Belgian-Dutch rMCM program, first intended for the Royal Netherlands Navy, has commenced sea trials.The specialized and cyber secured by design MCM vessels are the first to have the capability to embark and launch a combination of surface drones (themselves 12-metre, 19- tonne vessels), underwater drones and aerial drones.The mine countermeasures vessels will use a mainly autonomous system for detection, classification, identification and neutralization of mines This approach with an unmanned integrated system
HII Sells Over 700 REMUS Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles
HII, America’s largest shipbuilder and all-domain technologies and solutions provider, has sold more than 700 REMUS uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) to customers globally.The REMUS UUV family delivers critical advantages across modern naval operations, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare, and electronic warfare. These autonomous systems can operate independently or be teamed with crewed platforms — such as Virginia-class nuclear submarines — expanding operational reach while reducing detection risk and
VideoRay, BlueHalo Awarded $30.7M Navy Contract
VideoRay, a BlueHalo company, was awarded a $30,735,784 contract to provide systems engineering and support services for the company's Mission Specialist Defender systems, the Maritime Expeditionary Standoff Response (MESR) remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The five-year contract was issued by the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific and supports the U.S. Navy’s ongoing operations utilizing the Mission Specialist Defender systems.The award follows the U.S. Navy’s $92.6 M MESR contract awarded to VideoRay in May 2024 and further reinforces the company’s role in supporting
New Royal Navy USV to Neutralize Mines
The Royal Navy now has taken delivery of a 12m uncrewed surface vessel (USV), called Ariadne, that will be used to detect mines.This advanced technology is expected to increase operational tempo, and it eliminates the needs for sailors to enter mine danger areas.Royal Navy Motor Boat (RNMB) Ariadne can be deployed from a harbor or mother ship to scour the seabed for mines, using Thales Towed Synthetic Aperture Multiviews systems.The vessel can operate either fully autonomously or remote-controlled by operations in the portable remote command center.Fitted with AI automatic target recognition, Ariadne
Anschütz Rolls Out Navigation and Command System for Autonomous Navy Ops
German navigation specialist Anschütz has developed a navigation and command system for autonomous and unmanned maritime operations. The approval-ready system has undergone extensive testing in autonomous operation and is currently being prepared for use in prototypes, according to the company.The autonomous navigation and command system from Anschütz provides navies with a sustainable capability and safety enhancement for unmanned systems. It ensures autonomous navigation and control and operation of unmanned platforms, while also enabling remote monitoring and control from a
Saildrone, Palantir Technologies Partner for Maritime AI Solutions
Saildrone announced a partnership with Palantir Technologies to enable the scaling of autonomous systems to deliver maritime AI solutions in an era of mounting global threats and critically constrained shipbuilding capacity.Saildrone operates the world’s largest fleet of operationally deployed USVs, providing maritime domain awareness to the U.S. Navy, Department of Homeland Security, and international allies. The autonomous vehicles utilize edge-computing AI/ML algorithms to monitor activities both above and below the sea surface, detecting threats including narcotics trafficking, illegal
Oceaneering Nets US Gov Maritime Mobility System Deal
Oceaneering International, via its Aerospace and Defense Technologies (ADTech) segment, has been awarded a multi-year contract by the U.S. Department of Defense to design, build, test, and deliver a maritime mobility system.Oceaneering said it has been down-selected from multiple teams, without revealing any additional details.“We are pleased to have secured this contract with the Department of Defense which, at the time of award, is the largest initial contract value in Oceaneering’s history.“This award demonstrates the cross-industry application of our maritime technology, highlights
Cable Incidents 'Exceptional' in Frequency, says Finnish Secret Service
their critical underwater infrastructure seriously, he added."I would like to separate the anchors, whatever is behind those incidents, from the fact that there is a real threat against underwater critical infrastructure," he said, adding state actors had more effective capabilities for causing subsea destruction than by dragging anchors.(Reuters
FLANQ Enters Subsea Security Market
In response to Europe’s growing security challenges in the maritime domain, FLANQ has launched as a new provider of autonomous defense products.The company offers a comprehensive suite of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) uncrewed surface vessels, underwater drones, and sensor payloads, powered by FLANQ’s proprietary artificial intelligence software and hardware stack.Headquartered in northern Germany, FLANQ specializes in integrating AI capabilities with proven COTS maritime hardware. These ready-to-deploy, surface and underwater platforms provide naval forces with enhanced situational
Taiwan Detains Ship after Undersea Cable Disconnected
Taiwan's coast guard said it detained a China-linked cargo ship on Tuesday after a nearby undersea cable to the Penghu Islands in the sensitive Taiwan Strait was disconnected.Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has repeatedly complained about "grey zone" Chinese activities around the island, designed to pressure it without direct confrontation, such as balloon overflights and sand dredging.Taipei was alarmed after a Chinese-linked ship was suspected of damaging another cable earlier this year, prompting the navy and other agencies to step up efforts to protect the undersea
Fincantieri, Edge ink deal to Develop Underwater Solutions
Fincantieri and Edge sign a MoU to develop underwater solutions through the MAESTRAL joint venture. The MAESTRAL JV will be in charge of the design, development and construction of underwater systemsThe official signing took place in Rome, as part of the state visit to Italy by the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.Fincantieri, one of the world's leading groups in highly complex shipbuilding, and EDGE, one of the world's leading advanced technology and defense groups, today announced the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
Kongsberg Discovery’s Hugin AUV Passes US Navy Trials
.In the last year, the DIU team performed a technology assessment, culminating in quickly ordering and delivering a competent HUGIN AUV system.Kongsberg’s HUGIN Superior is an AUV system actively used by commercial and military customers since 2019.It provides immediate operational capability for Subsea and Seabed Warfare (SSW), Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (IPoE), Mine Countermeasures (MCM), and inspection of critical undersea infrastructure at delivery with no required modifications
EDGE and Fincantieri Deepen Partnership for Underwater Protection Solutions
expertise and production resources to develop state-of-the-art products suitable for the challenging and complex environment of the underwater environment.“Through Maestral, EDGE and Fincantieri are advancing world-class underwater capabilities that will play a pivotal role in the future of subsea security and maritime defense.“This partnership marks a significant step in positioning the UAE at the forefront of this strategically important domain, strengthening its role as a regional pioneer with globally competitive expertise.“As underwater technologies become increasingly vital
Underwater Sabotage: A Baltic Sea Timeline
;s coordinates corresponded to the time and place of the breaches.China allowed representatives from Germany, Sweden, Finland and Denmark on December 21 to board the Yi Peng 3 along with Chinese investigators, after a month-long diplomatic standoff.OCTOBER 2023: BALTICCONNECTOR GAS PIPE AND CABLESA subsea gas pipeline, the Balticconnector, which links Finland and Estonia, was severed by what Finnish investigators determined was Chinese container vessel Newnew Polar Bear dragging its anchor early on October 8, 2023.Estonian police suspect the ship of also damaging telecoms cables connecting Estonia
Royal Canadian Navy Vessel to Visit Antarctica
On January 10, the Royal Canadian Navy’s HMCS Margaret Brooke departed Halifax, Canada, on an historic mission - the first circumnavigation of South America and first visit to Antarctica by a Royal Canadian Navy vessel.As part of Operation PROJECTION – South America, the Harry DeWolf-class Arctic Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) will visit ports across South America to strengthen international relationships in collaboration with Global Affairs Canada. While in Antarctica, the ship will support Canadian scientific research, hosting a team of government scientists on board.The Navy says
Estonia Launches Navy to Protect Baltic Sea Power Link After Baltic Sea Outages
2 undersea power cable which, like Estlink 1, connects Finland and Estonia, and that it also damaged four internet lines.Baltic Sea nations are on high alert for acts of sabotage following a string of outages of power cables, telecom links and gas pipelines since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, although subsea equipment is also subject to technical malfunction and accidents.Damage to subsea installations in the region has now become so frequent that it is difficult to believe this was caused merely by accident or poor seamanship, Tsahkna said on Thursday.Finnish investigators believe the seized ship -
Exail Picks ST Engineering's Manufacturing Base for Belgian-Dutch Navy Program
ST Engineering iDirect’s Manufacturing Competence Center (MCC) has been selected by Exail to deliver the electronics for the underwater drones of the joint Mine Counter Measure Program (MCM) of the Belgian and Dutch navies.ST Engineering iDirect’s MCC located in Erpe-Mere, Belgium, delivers electronic high-reliability assembly, testing and repair services.Its capabilities were awarded the esteemed Factory of the Future title four consecutive times since 2015.Factories of the Future invest in digitization, personnel, smart processes and products, as well as in world-class manufacturing.
February 2025
