The Australian government said it is strengthening the nation’s ability to operate autonomous underwater vehicles with three Australian companies awarded contracts to develop new undersea navigation technology. As part of Defence’s Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) Undersea Navigation Challenge, contracts worth $7.2 million have been awarded to Phasor Innovation Pty Ltd, Nomad Atomics Pty Ltd and Q‑CTRL Pty Ltd.
The Australian companies will design and build technology that helps autonomous underwater vehicles identify their position in environments where GPS signals cannot reach or are unavailable. Navigating beneath the ocean surface is challenging because GPS signals cannot be relied on in conflict and do not work underwater, while technologies such as sonar can reveal a vessel’s location.
The Undersea Navigation Challenge asked Australian companies for innovative solutions to the challenge of autonomously navigating underwater. They needed to create small size, low weight, low power and low cost navigation systems suitable for autonomous underwater vehicles, which can operate independently for extended periods.
By working directly with Australian companies, Defence is accelerating innovation in our defence industry, backing in highly‑skilled jobs, and ensuring critical capabilities can be developed and sustained in Australia. The Undersea Navigation Challenge is a joint effort across Defence, with support provided by Defence Science and Technology Group, Joint Capabilities Group and the Royal Australian Navy.
ASCA head Major General Hugh Meggitt said: “ASCA exists to accelerate the delivery of critical Defence capabilities. The Undersea Navigation Challenge is a tangible example of that approach in action. By working with Australian industry to rapidly prototype, develop and employ undersea navigation systems, we are shortening the path from operational need through innovative solution to operational employment, all while strengthening Australia’s sovereign technology and industrial base.”
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