A Bluebottle USV from Ocius Technology in Sydney Harbour.

Australia orders Bluebottle USVs from Ocius Technology in landmark contract

Facing an uncertain future and huge maritime domain to patrol, Australia has ordered Bluebottle USVs from Ocius Technology. The landmark deal will add further  autonomous vessels to the Australian Navy, helping to provide persistent presence and awareness.

By Sam Cranny-Evans, editor of Calibre Defence, published on March 11, 2026. 

Ocius Technology has announced a $176 million (approx £94 million/$126 million) contract to provide Bluebottle USVs to the Australian Navy. The contract creates a five-year programme of record that will start this year, the March 11 press release states.

The funding enables Ocius to build a fleet of its Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessels for the Australian Navy, the release adds. They will join 15 Bluebottle USVs that support Australia’s Operation Resolute, a whole-of-government effort to protect Australia’s borders and offshore maritime interests.

They are focused on: 

  • Illegal maritime arrivals
  • Maritime terrorism
  • Piracy, robbery, and violence at sea
  • Illegal activity in protected areas
  • Illegal exploitation of natural resources (e.g., illegal fishing)
  • Marine pollution
  • Prohibited imports and exports
  • Compromise to biosecurity

Naval personnel are contributing to the extensive patrols over a wide area, and the Ocius USVs provide a sort of maritime satellite network. Powered by solar, wind and wave energy, the Bluebottles carry surface and sub-surface payloads, providing long-endurance surveillance. With a 300 kg payload, they can remain at sea for months at a time, according to Ocius. 

Robert Dane, Chief Executive Officer of Ocius Technology, said: “These Bluebottles are like ‘satellites of the sea’, delivering ISR capabilities that keep constant watch over and under our oceans at disruptively low cost.”

Calibre comment: The growing role of USVs

Australia is an early adopter of autonomous technologies, but it is not alone. The UK is experimenting with and deploying uncrewed vessels in a variety of roles like counter-mining. Most prominently, the UK’s Project CABOT reflects the “satellite of the sea” capability mentioned by Dane. Under that project, the UK is seeking contractor-owned and operated USVs to provide a persistent maritime surveillance network. Like the Bluebottle USV, those platforms will be required to autonomously patrol the North Atlantic, building the Atlantic Bastion as the Royal Navy calls it. The hope is that USVs can provide the mass and surveillance capability needed to alleviate pressure on the UK’s crewed vessels. 

There are various concepts around the world that are seeking similar capabilities. They range generally from maritime domain awareness through to more aggressive patrol and strike missions. However, there are many challenges ahead of USVs. Autonomous navigation at sea requires effective control and understanding of the laws of the sea, for example. This is not impossible and has been demonstrated in the past, but doing it at scale likely increases those challenges. 

For further reading on maritime autonomy (and if you’d like to help support Calibre Defence) check out the links below: 

The lead image shows a Bluebottle USV navigating Sydney Harbour. Credit: Ocius Technology.

editor's pick

Get insider news, tips, and updates. No spam, just the good stuff!

you might also like