ASCA awards undersea navigation contracts to three Australian companies

Defence has awarded three Australian companies awarded contracts to develop new undersea navigation technology and strengthened the nation’s ability to operate Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs).

As part of Defence’s Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) Undersea Navigation Challenge, contracts worth $7.2 million have been awarded to Phasor Innovation Pty Ltd, Nomad Atomics Pty Ltd and Q‑CTRL Pty Ltd.

These companies will design and build technology that helps autonomous underwater vehicles identify their position in environments where GPS signals cannot reach or are unavailable.

Navigating beneath the ocean surface is challenging because GPS signals cannot be relied on in conflict and do not work underwater, while technologies such as sonar can reveal a vessel’s location, says Defence in a media release.

“ASCA exists to accelerate the delivery of critical Defence capabilities. The Undersea Navigation Challenge is a tangible example of that approach in action,” said MAJGEN Hugh Meggitt, Head of ASCA.

“By working with Australian industry to rapidly prototype, develop and employ undersea navigation systems, we are shortening the path from operational need through innovative solution to operational employment, all while strengthening Australia’s sovereign technology and industrial base.”

The Undersea Navigation Challenge asked Australian companies for innovative solutions to the challenge of autonomously navigating underwater. They needed to create small size, low weight, low power and low cost navigation systems suitable for autonomous underwater vehicles, which can operate independently for extended periods.

The Undersea Navigation Challenge is a joint effort across Defence, with support provided by the Defence Science and Technology Group, Joint Capabilities Group and the Royal Australian Navy. By working directly with Australian companies, Defence is accelerating innovation in Australia’s defence industry and ensuring critical capabilities can be developed and sustained in Australia, the Department said.