NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Two defense companies are collaborating on drone boats capable of spotting submarines. U.S.-based Saildrone and Thales Australia, a division of France-based Thales Group, on April 8 said they would outfit the former’s Surveyor unmanned surface vessels with the latter’s BlueSentry towed arrays. The announcement coincided with the start of the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space conference.
The Department of Defense has long sought an unmanned ability to surveil stealthy submersibles, with Navy leadership advocating for a hybrid fleet. Defense News reported the Navy’s plan for a manned-unmanned fleet maturing in three phases from fiscal 2024 through the years thereafter.
Thales Australia’s vice president of underwater systems, Troy Stephen, highlighted the Surveyor’s unique capabilities and contribution to maritime domain awareness. The Surveyor USV weighs 15 tons, stretches 65 feet, and has an aluminum hull and keel manufactured by Austal USA.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti emphasized the importance of using unmanned assets to free up manned assets for more specific tasks during shipbuilding tours along the Gulf Coast. Franchetti praised the collaboration between high tech industry and the shipbuilding base for delivering cutting-edge products at scale.
