QinetiQ and Forcys Strengthen Australia’s Autonomous Maritime Systems

QinetiQ and Forcys have joined forces to enhance Australia’s maritime safety and sovereign capability by improving the testing and assurance of undersea and autonomous systems.

Under a new memorandum of understanding, the companies will combine QinetiQ’s expertise in defense test and evaluation with Forcys’ advanced underwater sensing and communication technologies. 

The partnership aims to ensure submarines, autonomous vessels, and other maritime platforms are safe, reliable, and mission-ready from early design through operational use.

The focus of this collaboration includes developing deployable underwater ranges and test systems, which will allow the Australian Defence Force to evaluate performance in realistic conditions. 

Corry Neale, QinetiQ’s Australia chief executive, described the initiative as a “step-change” in maritime assurance, emphasizing the importance of sovereign capabilities in contested undersea environments.

Improving Australia’s Maritime Safety and Security

Improving maritime safety and security is critical because Australia faces increasing undersea activity from near-peer competitors and the potential threat of hostile submarines, mines, and unmanned systems in its vast maritime approaches. 

In line with this, Australia has been investing in deployable underwater test ranges in locations such as Jervis Bay and Exmouth. 

This enables the navy to validate submarine sonar systems, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and unmanned surface vessels in realistic deep-water, littoral, and congested coastal environments. 

The country has also accelerated the integration of autonomous maritime platforms, including the navy’s Sea 129 Phase 4 mine-hunting AUVs, coastal surveillance drones for monitoring shipping lanes, and remotely-operated underwater inspection systems for critical infrastructure. 

Deployable sensor networks and real-time data-sharing platforms from partners like Sonardyne and Chelsea Technologies enable secure tracking, live telemetry, and rapid threat identification across multiple vessel types simultaneously.

These efforts align directly with the Australian government’s Defence Strategic Review and AUKUS Pillar 2 objectives, focusing on sovereign industrial capability, operational readiness, and interoperability with allied forces.