Australia has approved a major investment to expand its fleet of Bluebottle unmanned surface vessels used for maritime surveillance. The government allocated 176 million Australian dollars to acquire 40 additional vessels from Ocius Technology. This purchase will increase the operational fleet to 55 vessels designed for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations at sea. Production will take place at Ocius’ advanced manufacturing facility in Sydney, while its Hunter region site will provide additional support. The Bluebottle vessel was developed through a collaboration between Ocius and the Royal Australian Navy, with initial support from Australia’s Defence Innovation Hub. The navy began receiving the first Bluebottle units in 2023, and they have since been used primarily for maritime surveillance and northern border patrol missions. The vessel uses renewable energy from solar panels, wind power, and wave motion to maintain long endurance at sea. As a result, the platform can operate for extended periods without requiring traditional fuel. Officials reported that the vessels can remain within the same operating area for around 75 days, and one deployment lasted more than six months continuously. The 6.8-meter vessel can carry various mission payloads and operate as part of integrated maritime forces that combine crewed and autonomous systems.
