Helsing to Acquire Australian Underwater Drone Maker Blue Ocean
Helsing, a prominent European defense tech startup, has announced its intention to acquire Blue Ocean, an ocean technology enterprise specializing in the design, development, and operation of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). The acquisition will combine Blue Ocean’s hardware and manufacturing expertise with Helsing’s advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities, integrating Blue Ocean’s team and functions into Helsing while maintaining operations in both the UK and Australia.
The partnership will expedite the advancement and large-scale production of autonomous platforms dedicated to securing the underwater battlespace, thereby offering democratic allies a significant technological advantage in maritime operations. By jointly developing sovereign capabilities across Europe and Australia, the collaboration aims to reinforce strategic defense, particularly in the North Atlantic and the maritime domains of AUKUS partners.
The strategic acquisition of Blue Ocean is set to accelerate Helsing’s roadmap for AI-powered autonomous systems. The announcement follows the recent introduction of Helsing’s autonomous underwater glider, the SG-1 Fathom, which underwent successful testing at the BUTEC underwater military test range in July. Additionally, four months prior, Helsing revealed its plans to establish a new Resilience Factory in Plymouth, as part of a £350 million investment in the United Kingdom.
Amelia Gould, General Manager for Maritime at Helsing, stated: “There is a clear necessity for intelligent autonomous mass deployment, and working with Blue Ocean enables us to advance the development of autonomous gliders for enhanced underwater Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) in naval operations. Blue Ocean has served as a vital partner over the past year, and as we aim to substantially strengthen our maritime offerings to Europe and AUKUS, forming this alliance is a logical step. Our combined capabilities will provide clients with an unparalleled combination of domain expertise, rapid innovation, and cutting-edge technology.”
Mike Deeks, Group Managing Director at Blue Ocean, commented: “Since our initial engagement with Helsing, our teams have developed a robust relationship, merging our Autonomous Underwater Vehicle technologies with Helsing’s sophisticated Edge AI processing to deliver advanced anti-submarine warfare and wide area surveillance solutions. These capabilities are essential for constructing the modern common operating picture and ensuring effective border and asset protection.”