A South Australian innovation is poised to strengthen the Royal Australian Navy's undersea surveillance capability, to better monitor threats and keep the nation safe.
Adelaide-based defence software company Acacia Systems has collaborated with Defence Science and Technology Group, Adelaide University, Curtin University and Saab Australia to produce new technology that provides greater precision over a larger surveillance area.
The project set out to improve operational performance of undersea surveillance by increasing the accuracy and range of automatic detection, as well as the tracking and localisation of undersea threats.
These advancements are critical as the Navy operates in increasingly complex ocean environments and faces growing challenges from advanced undersea vessels. These challenges were identified by Defence as a priority for research under the former Remote Undersea Surveillance STaR Shot program.
The project successfully delivered three key outcomes:
- Improved potential for the automatic detection of undersea threats beyond current capabilities
- Options for more accurate placement of sensors, with a higher degree of tracking
- Successfully integrated Acacia's Onyx platform with Saab's combat management system, providing integration within Australia's warship combat system network.
Collectively, these achievements have led to further engagement with Defence Science and Technology Group and Navy to explore opportunities to transition the solutions into an operational capability.
The Malinauskas Labor Government has provided $1.6 million support through the Defence Innovation Partnership's Activator Fund which was established to accelerate the translation of innovative defence technologies into real-world capability for the Australian Defence Force.
This project exemplifies that objective, bringing together South Australia's world-class research and industry expertise, with SMEs and Defence primes to explore solutions that could deliver advancements in undersea surveillance.
As put by Chris Picton
This is exactly the kind of cutting-edge capability we want being developed right here in South Australia, technology that strengthens our national security while backing local jobs and expertise.
By improving the detection, tracking and localisation of undersea threats, this technology has the potential to give the Royal Australian Navy a sharper edge in increasingly complex environments.
This project demonstrates the strength of South Australia's defence industry and research sector working together to deliver world-leading capability.
As put by Bob Humphreys, CEO Acacia Systems
The success of the Activator project benefitted enormously from having an absolute clarity of vision – to enhance Australia's sovereign capability in autonomous undersea surveillance aligned with one of Defence's investment priorities focussed on undersea warfare and uncrewed maritime systems.
Acacia will be continuing R&D efforts leveraging the success of the program and intends integrating the research outcomes into its world-class Onyx automatic threat detection and tracking system in the coming 12 months.
The Onyx technology is already supporting Defence's contributions to the Australian Government's Operation Resolute commitments with the Ocius Bluebottles and is ideally placed to contribute to Navy's future autonomous undersea warfare capabilities.
