The undersea domain is no longer the silent, unexplored frontier it once was. It’s the new battleground, a critical arena where nations are racing to secure their interests, protect infrastructure, and gain a strategic edge. The latest innovations in underwater energy, navigation, sensing, autonomy, and communication systems are reshaping how defense agencies operate beneath the waves. The companies leading this charge are not just developing tools—they’re redefining the rules of subsea defense.
Power & Energy Systems: The Backbone of Subsea Operations
“Defense missions are pushing deeper and staying longer, and that demands reliable, long-lasting power solutions,” says a senior engineer at SubCtech. Their SmartPowerBlock rechargeable lithium-ion battery packs, rated for depths up to 6,000 meters, are a game-changer. These modular systems keep AUVs and ROVs running on extended missions, while OceanPack monitoring systems ensure uninterrupted environmental data collection—critical for maritime domain awareness.
Teledyne Marine’s Subsea Supercharger (SSC) is another breakthrough. This compact, fuel cell-based “mini power plant” is designed for long deployments in remote environments. It can charge resident AUVs and ROVs, power control nodes, and support fully autonomous operations without frequent retrieval or servicing. “The SSC is a game-changer for missions that require persistence and reliability in harsh conditions,” says a Teledyne spokesperson.
Subsea connectivity is just as vital. NOVACAVI’s hybrid fiber-optic cables, part of their Aquacable line, are powering and delivering real-time data for advanced surveillance systems like Image Soft’s Underwater Surveillance System (UNWAS). MacArtney Underwater Technology Group, with decades of experience, designs and integrates end-to-end underwater energy delivery systems, including custom-engineered umbilicals, winches, slip rings, and subsea junction boxes. These systems form the power distribution backbone for AUVs, ROVs, and fixed seabed installations.
Navigation & Positioning: Operating Without GPS
“GPS-denied environments are the new normal,” says a defense strategist. “Surface fixes can’t always be relied upon, so precision underwater navigation is critical.”
Tritech International’s MicronNav USBL system is a standout in miniaturized navigation. Designed for small vehicles and diver applications, it provides real-time tracking, positioning, and data transfer in tight, cluttered spaces—critical for operations like mine countermeasures (MCM) and covert coastal operations.
SBG Systems is redefining inertial navigation with its MEMS-based Ekinox and Ellipse INS/AHRS units. These compact, low-SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) systems provide highly accurate navigation and orientation data, even without GNSS input. “Our systems enable long-endurance autonomy and precise control for vehicles operating deep underwater or in contested environments,” says a spokesperson for SBG Systems.
Nortek’s compact Doppler Velocity Logs (DVLs) and the Nucleus 1000 navigation system are enabling small AUVs and diver guidance systems to operate autonomously with remarkable accuracy. Paired with SBG Systems’ MEMS-based inertial sensors, these solutions are shrinking the size and cost of precision navigation.
Sensing & Surveillance: Expanding Seabed Awareness
Subsea defense is shifting from intermittent seabed surveys to continuous surveillance, driving innovation in sonar and underwater imaging systems. Kraken Robotics has emerged as a global leader in synthetic aperture sonar (SAS). Its KATFISH system, integrated with a Towed Synthetic Aperture Sonar (TSAS), is already in use with multiple navies for MCM and change detection, providing unmatched resolution and area coverage rates.
NORBIT Subsea adds another layer of capability with its compact multibeam sonar systems and GuardPoint family of intruder detection solutions, enabling security teams to monitor harbors, naval bases, and underwater infrastructure in real time. EdgeTech has a proven track record delivering side-scan sonar systems like the 4205 and 2205 payloads for allied MCM programs.
For close-range operations, Klein Marine Systems’ high-resolution side-scan sonar provides detailed imaging of the seafloor, supporting MCM, salvage, and security missions. Paired with BIRNS’ ruggedized underwater lighting systems, these tools provide exceptional clarity in challenging environments, offering a comprehensive toolkit for detecting threats and anomalies in complex underwater settings.
Autonomous Unmanned Systems: Scaling Operations
Unmanned platforms are transforming maritime defense by expanding coverage and reducing operational costs. VideoRay’s portable ROVs have become standard equipment for U.S. Navy explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams, enabling rapid, expeditionary deployment with minimal logistical overhead.
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