Overview
- The contract awards Ocius Technology $176 million for 40 additional uncrewed surface vessels, lifting the Royal Australian Navy’s Bluebottle fleet to 55.
- Powered by solar, wind and wave energy, the vessels can remain at sea for months, with the longest continuous deployment exceeding 180 days.
- The platforms provide long-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, can carry payloads including armed aerial drones, and are intended to team with submarines.
- Officials say Bluebottles are already operating in northwest Australia under Operation Resolute to support border protection.
- The investment builds sovereign production capacity, creating 50 jobs at a new Sydney facility and establishing a second site in New South Wales’ Hunter region.