How drone submarines are turning the seabed into a future battlefield

By Adam Bartley, RMIT University and Matthew Warren, RMIT University A 12-tonne fishing boat weighs anchor three kilometres off the port of Adelaide. A small crew huddles over a miniature submarine, activates the controls, primes the explosives, and releases it into the water. The underwater drone uses sensors and sonar to navigate towards its pre-programmed…

Hanwha consortium pitches VenomX autonomy to the army

Korean defence manufacturer Hanwha Defense Australia (HDA) has brought together Australian and South Korean industry to pitch its autonomous VenomX logistics concept. The company is pitching the AI powered ‘Automated Protected Logistics to the Edge’ system to the Australian Army via the Robotic and Autonomous Systems Implementation and Coordination Office (RICO). Hanwha is building self-propelled…

The spirit of Ben Lexcen in Navy USV

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has shown just how quickly new defence systems can be developed when they need to be – bypassing long, convoluted and expensive development programmes in peacetime. Well, Australian Defence Force personnel has developed a naval uncrewed surface vessel (USV) in just 14 weeks and on a limited budget, with a…

BlueBottle Uncrewed Surface Vessel fleet now complete

The Royal Australian Navy has received its fifth and final BlueBottle Uncrewed Surface Vessel (pictured) powered only by the wind, sun and wave action. Manufactured by Ocius Technologies, the BlueBottle can cover long distances, undertake a variety of missions, and stay at sea for extended periods. BlueBottle vessel BEACON recently spent two travelling to and…