Defence to invest $176 million in the Ocius Bluebottle Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USV) capability, with the company to deliver 40 Bluebottles. This will place Australia’s Bluebottle fleet as one of the world’s largest sovereign USV fleets.
“This investment in a new fleet of Bluebottle USVs will strengthen border protection and help us guard against increasing maritime threats,” Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy, affirmed.
This funding has created a Program of Record, supporting Ocius Technology to deliver a fleet of Bluebottle USVs over a five-year contract commencing in early 2026.
"We are very proud to announce this Australian Program of Record for the acquisition of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs). For more than two decades, we have invested in building a world-class product and manufacturing capability right here in Australia. This contract represents a major milestone for the company and for Australia's sovereign maritime technology sector,” Chief Executive Officer of Ocius Technology, Robert Dane, stated.
This is in addition to the 15 Bluebottles already delivered to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) - the majority of which are supporting Operation Resolute by providing maritime surveillance in Australia's northern approaches. The investment will expand the Navy’s operational fleet to 55 Bluebottles.
“The Bluebottle provides operational advantage and flexibility, being able to carry multiple modular payloads for multiple missions. These vessels can autonomously monitor designated areas for lengths of time in dangerous and harsh maritime conditions,” Head of Navy Capability, Rear Admiral Stephen Hughes, highlighted.
Bluebottles will provide near-persistent, long-range surface and sub-surface intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to protect Australia from increasing maritime security threats.
“Over the next five years and beyond, Bluebottle will monitor Australia’s maritime approaches and strengthen Defence’s ability to protect our national security interests,” Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, said.
The Bluebottle was originally developed in partnership with the Navy and initially funded through the Defence Innovation Hub.
Under the contract, the Navy's expanded Bluebottle Fleet will be manufactured at Ocius' new, facility in Sydney.
Production will be supported by an additional facility in the NSW Hunter region.
The procurement has followed contracts with the Australian Government supporting the Australian Border Force (ABF), where Ocius Bluebottles are deployed to provide 24/7 persistent maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations for surface threat detection.
The Bluebottle is an Australian-designed USV powered by solar, wind and wave energy. Its patented design has allowed it to operate across Australia's vast maritime domain while carrying sophisticated payloads, providing continuous low-observable surface and subsurface ISR capability.
Bluebottle USVs work in a teamed environment with other undersea and surface assets.
Further opportunities for small and medium Australian businesses to be involved will be generated as production scales.