Ocius Technology has signed a contract with Seisgadget to support the performance verification of its Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). The contract between Ocius Technology and Seisgadget commenced in August 2026.
The programme will verify the Bluebottles' capacity to conduct persistent maritime and undersea surveillance across its extensive maritime domain by carrying out in-water testing and acceptance activities in Australia. Equipped with advanced sensors, the vessels aim to provide a long-endurance, cost-effective capability to detect and monitor activity both above and below the ocean surface.
Robert Dane, Chief Executive Officer of Ocius Technology, noted that the verification programme in Japan marks another step forward for regional maritime security. Dane highlighted that Japan and Australia are major maritime nations that rely heavily on secure sea lanes and share an interest in a peaceful, stable, and secure Indo-Pacific, adding that the programme demonstrates practical bilateral cooperation to strengthen maritime security.
The vessels designated for the JMSDF verification programme will be manufactured at Ocius Technology’s advanced maritime manufacturing facility in Sydney, Australia. According to Ocius, the patented, Australian-designed USV is powered by solar, wind, and wave energy to support long-endurance operations while keeping an acoustically quiet profile for superior underwater surveillance and continuous low-observable surface and subsurface ISR capabilities.
The agreement follows a March 2026 announcement by the Australian Government of a $176 million investment to deliver a further 40 Australian-designed and built Bluebottles, significantly expanding long-range maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capacity in the region.
