Ocius Technology has signed a contract with Seisgadget Ltd to support the performance verification of its Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). This programme will verify Bluebottles’ capacity to conduct persistent maritime and undersea surveillance across its extensive maritime domain, by conducting in-water testing and acceptance activities in Australia.
Equipped with advanced sensors, the Bluebottles will provide a proven long-endurance and cost-effective capability to enhance maritime domain awareness to detect and monitor activity below and above the ocean surface.
Robert Dane, Chief Executive Officer of Ocius Technology, said the verification programme in Japan represents another step forward in support of regional maritime security.
“Japan and Australia are major maritime nations with extensive maritime domains, a strong reliance on secure sea lanes and a shared interest in maintaining a peaceful, stable and secure Indo-Pacific.
“This verification programme demonstrates how our two countries can work together to deliver practical capability that strengthens maritime security.
“We are particularly proud that an Australian-designed and built technology will contribute to the security of one of Australia’s closest strategic partners.”
In March 2026, the Australian Government announced a $176 million investment to deliver a further 40 Australian-designed and built Bluebottles, significantly increasing the region’s long-range maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capacity.
The vessels for the JMSDF verification programme will be manufactured at Ocius Technology’s advanced maritime manufacturing facility in Sydney, Australia.
The Bluebottle is a groundbreaking Australian-designed USV powered by solar, wind and wave energy enabling long-endurance operations while maintaining an acoustically quiet environment for superior underwater surveillance. The Bluebottle’s patented design allows it to operate across the world’s vast maritime domains while carrying sophisticated payloads, providing continuous low-observable surface and subsurface ISR capability.
The contract between Ocius Technology and Seisgadget Ltd commenced in August 2026.
Media contact:
Leigh Goldberg
[email protected], 0411 573 083
About Ocius
Ocius is an award-winning Australian company at the forefront of autonomous maritime surveillance. Its flagship platform, the Bluebottle USV, is a renewable-powered, long-endurance vessel engineered to provide persistent surveillance, communications and payload delivery for defence, scientific and commercial missions.
Bluebottles are currently in service with the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Border Force, the Royal New Zealand Navy, and with the United States through prime defence contractor ThayerMahan. All Bluebottles are proudly designed and manufactured in Australia at Ocius’ Sydney headquarters.
About Seisgadget
Seisgadget Ltd is a Tokyo-based provider of marine survey and robotics solutions, offering equipment supply, technical support and survey services. As Ocius Technology’s partner in Japan, Seisgadget supports the introduction of Bluebottle vessels for the Japanese market.
