When deployed, the solar sail of the Bluebottle (pictured) harnesses both solar and wind energy. In headwinds or winds more than 25 kt, the solar sail automatically folds onto the deck of the USV. (Ocius)
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is acquiring five Bluebottle unmanned surface vessels (USVs) to enhance its ability to experiment and advance the operational employment of uncrewed systems under, on, and above the water.
Disclosing a AUD4.9 million (USD3.3 million) contract with Sydney-based Ocius Technologies, Rear Admiral Peter Quinn, head of the Navy Capability in the RAN, said on 25 November that this represented a significant investment in sovereign industry capability to advance the ability of the RAN to effectively employ robotic and autonomous systems.
“We have vast areas that we need to patrol, which we can't do with a small number of crewed ships. We have to and will be investing in uncrewed platforms that will be out there persistently conducting surveillance,'' he said.
The 22 ft solar, wind, and wave-powered vessels would be used in developing new uncrewed underwater systems technology, and as testbeds for above-water and low-water surveillance, he said.
Ocius CEO Robert Dane told Janes all five vessels would be delivered to the RAN by June 2023. Four similar Bluebottles under contract to the Australian Border Force (ABF) and equipped with 360° day/night infrared cameras, radar, and satellite communications had recently successfully completed 23,000 n mile of unescorted maritime surveillance patrols off the coast of Western Australia, he said.
The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) announced in mid-November that the Bluebottle USVs were operated by the Australian Army for the first time in ‘Operation Resolute', a two-week deployment to support the protection of Australia's borders and offshore maritime interests.
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