Australian Consortium to Build Underwater ‘Network’ for Northern Naval Watch

Thales Australia, Austal, and C2 Robotics have teamed up to develop a sub-sea “surveillance network” designed to monitor and secure Australia’s northern maritime chokepoints.

The locally built platform will combine C2 Robotics’ proprietary Speartooth long-endurance unmanned underwater vehicles with Thales’ BlueSentry towed array and BlueSeeker passive sonar technology, enhancing coverage across vast ocean areas.

It will be offered to detect, classify, and transmit real-time intelligence on potential undersea and surface threats, according to Defence Connect.

The integrated suite will also be compatible for deployment from Austal’s proven Evolved Cape-class patrol boats, already operating with the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Border Force.

Fergus Hudson, defense research and development strategist at Austal, highlighted that the resulting system fits within his company’s approach of continuous improvement for its flagship vessel.

“We’re looking at every launch that we put out to incorporate new technologies and new options. And this is a great example that we’re hoping potentially to demonstrate this next year,” he stated.

Delivering Persistent Surveillance

Unlike fixed seabed sensors or short-lived sonar buoys, the proposed layered network will use autonomous vehicles capable of staying underwater for extended periods.

The Speartooth craft can sit on the seabed to monitor activity, conserve energy, and surface to relay data on passing submarines or ships.

It has a length of 8 meters (26 feet), is built with composite hull material, and incorporates a customizable bay for sensing, munitions, and other mission-specific payloads.

The drone is powered by a hybrid lithium-ion and diesel engine coupled with an electric propeller for an operational depth of 2,000 meters (6,562 feet) and a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles).

“There are seabed sensors, they’re fixed and there are sonar buoys which are sporadic and short-lived,” said Gavin Henry, Thales Australia’s maritime autonomy campaign lead. 

“What we give you here is endurance. So, persistence and endurance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. This gives a commander much more reach and agility with where ISR systems may be placed.”