On Monday, April 8th, Saildrone announced a strategic partnership that promises to revolutionize anti-submarine warfare (ASW) for the US Navy.

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The world of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) is on the cusp of a revolution.

Saildrone, a leading developer of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs), and Thales Australia, a renowned producer of underwater sensor technology, have joined forces to create a game-changing solution: a long-range, autonomous system for detecting and tracking enemy submarines in the vast expanse of the open ocean.

This groundbreaking partnership hinges on the integration of Thales Australia’s BlueSentry towed array sonar with Saildrone’s highly capable Surveyor-class USVs.

The BlueSentry, a sophisticated sonar system towed behind the USV, acts as an underwater ear, meticulously collecting intelligence on submerged vessels.

Meanwhile, the Saildrone Surveyor, a 20-meter long (65.6 feet), 15-ton autonomous workhorse, boasts exceptional endurance, allowing it to undertake extended missions without the need for a crew.

Saildrone
The SD-3000, the first aluminum Surveyor USV built for long-distance mapping and maritime domain awareness, sets sail from Austal USA’s Alabama facility. (Image source: Saildrone)

Transforming Naval Operations

This innovative technology promises to significantly reshape naval operations in the following ways:

Enhanced Efficiency

By autonomously handling crucial ASW tasks, the system frees up crewed ships for more complex missions requiring human judgment and intervention.

This allows navies to optimize the utilization of their valuable manned assets.

Persistent Surveillance

The Saildrone Surveyor’s impressive endurance empowers navies to maintain a relentless watch over vast stretches of ocean, particularly in remote areas traditionally difficult to monitor consistently.

This persistent surveillance capability significantly enhances a navy’s ability to detect and deter potential threats.

Technological Edge

The BlueSentry towed array incorporates the latest advancements in sonar technology, ensuring superior detection and classification capabilities.

This translates to a significant advantage in the critical game of cat-and-mouse played out beneath the waves.

Synergy of Expertise

The success of this collaboration hinges on the complementary expertise of both companies.

Saildrone brings its cutting-edge USV technology to the table.

The Surveyor boasts impressive features like wind and solar propulsion for extended missions, advanced navigation systems for precise coursekeeping, and robust data collection capabilities.

Thales Australia, on the other hand, contributes its in-depth knowledge of underwater sensor technology.

Surveyor Launched
(Image source: Saildrone)

The BlueSentry towed array represents the culmination of years of research and development, offering exceptional sensitivity and a compact design ideally suited for integration with USVs.

Troy Stephen, Vice President of Underwater Systems at Thales Australia, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating that this opportunity allows the company to expand its support for one of its closest allies, the United States.

“Over two decades, these products have spanned the fields of Seismic survey to mine warfare and, more recently, surface ship anti-submarine warfare,” said Stephen.

He continued, “The Saildrone Surveyor offers a unique capability within the field of USVs, and Thales looks forward to the opportunity to contribute to the impressive maritime domain awareness capability of the platform.”

Richard Jenkins, Saildrone founder and CEO, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the transformative potential of the technology.

“Combining the BlueSentry with our Surveyor USV provides a game-changing solution for ASW operations. Saildrone is committed to continuously delivering new advanced solutions to our defense customers, and this partnership represents a significant leap forward in autonomous underwater surveillance.”

The Road Ahead for Saildrone

The first Saildrone Surveyor USV was recently launched in the US and is currently undergoing rigorous testing and evaluation by the US Navy.

This evaluation process is a crucial step in validating the system’s effectiveness and paving the way for the seamless integration of the BlueSentry towed array.

With successful testing, navies around the world can expect to see the deployment of this innovative ASW system in the near future, marking a new era in autonomous undersea warfare.

The ramifications of this partnership extend beyond immediate tactical advantages. This collaboration signifies a significant shift towards greater autonomy in naval operations.

As USV technology continues to mature and sensor systems like the BlueSentry become more sophisticated, we can expect to see a growing role for autonomous platforms in safeguarding maritime security.