The Royal Australian Navy is set to include an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) in the Exercise Kakadu Fleet Review 2026 on Saturday 21 March, in what organisers describe as the first time a USV has appeared alongside crewed vessels in a formal Navy fleet review.
The vessel is the Ocius Bluebottle, which has been designated as a Navy-registered vessel. Its participation follows an announcement last week of a $176 million “Program of Record” agreement with Ocius to add 40 more Bluebottle USVs to the Navy’s existing fleet of 15.
According to information supplied with the announcement, Bluebottle is designed in Australia and uses solar, wind and wave energy rather than fuel, with the company claiming the platform can remain at sea for months and operate quietly for underwater surveillance tasks.
The release says the USVs are intended to operate in a “teamed” environment with other undersea and surface assets, as part of an integrated force.
Exercise Kakadu is the Navy’s multinational maritime engagement activity in 2026. The fleet review on Sydney Harbour is expected to include around 30 vessels from Australia and 18 other countries, and will commemorate the 125th anniversary of the foundation of Australia’s Navy.
Ocius chief executive Robert Dane said the fleet review appearance indicated uncrewed systems were becoming part of Australia’s maritime capability, and highlighted the company’s focus on Australian design and manufacturing as well as renewable-energy operations.
