The Australian government has announced an A$176m ($125m) contract with Ocius Technology for 40 additional domestically designed and manufactured Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessels (USVs).
The procurement will expand the Royal Australian Navy’s operational fleet to a total of 55 vessels.
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The deal, announced on 11 March 2026, will enhance the nation’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) activities across its maritime domain.
Production of the new vessels will take place at Ocius’ advanced manufacturing site in Sydney, with support from a secondary facility in the New South Wales Hunter region.
The government expects the project to generate approximately 50 jobs at the Sydney location, while also providing new opportunities for small and medium-sized Australian businesses through an expanded domestic supply chain.
Australia Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said: “With this investment the Albanese Government is backing Aussie ingenuity while creating highly skilled, well-paid jobs for locals. We are investing right now to uplift our sovereign defence industry.”
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By GlobalDataOcius is scheduled to commence delivery of the new USVs under a five-year contract beginning in early 2026.
The current Navy fleet includes 15 Bluebottles, primarily deployed in Operation Resolute for maritime surveillance in northern waters.
The Bluebottle USV is powered by solar, wind, and wave energy and is designed for long-duration operations with a low acoustic signature, enabling reliable underwater surveillance. Its patented design allows integration with other maritime assets for coordinated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
Ocius CEO Robert Dane said: “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.”
The latest order from Australian government follows previous contracts where Ocius Bluebottles have supported the Australian Border Force by providing continuous maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations focused on detecting surface threats.
The expansion of the Bluebottle capability addresses priorities identified in the National Defence Strategy and aims to provide scalable, persistent surveillance coverage using sovereign technology.
