New alliance focuses on AI-powered defense for undersea infrastructure

Helsing is partnering with Blue Ocean Marine Tech Systems, Ocean Infinity, and QinetiQ to accelerate the deployment of AI and autonomy in maritime operations and protect critical undersea infrastructure.

The announcement follows a series of maritime incidents exposing vulnerabilities to underwater threats. Navies are now seeking new approaches to counter these threats by adopting advanced technologies for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and protecting critical undersea infrastructure (CUI), collectively referred to as ‘digitalizing’ the oceans.

The partnership addresses increasing underwater threats and plans to provide autonomous mass. Specifically, the companies will combine:

• Helsing’s knowledge in AI-powered defence technology;
• Blue Ocean Marine Tech Systems’ dual-use autonomous systems for maritime data collection;
• Ocean Infinity’s advanced maritime robotics and remote operations;
• QinetiQ’s experience in data architecture, integration, and assurance.

Helsing highlighted that the core aim is to accelerate the adoption of advanced AI and maritime autonomy on deployed operations within the year.

“The growing underwater threat can only be addressed with advanced AI. We have some of the world’s best technical talent in the UK and it’s time we take their achievements to sea. Blue Ocean, Ocean Infinity, and QinetiQ are like-minded companies, and we are thrilled to partner with them to advance our mission,” Amelia Gould, General Manager, Maritime, Helsing, said.

“We are delighted to join this partnership and provide our innovative and highly capable autonomous underwater vehicles with unique operating features, allowing us to position Helsing’s edge AI in the optimal locations to detect and localise the threats to our allies’ strategic interests,” Mike Deeks CSC, Group Managing Director, Blue Ocean Marine Tech Systems, noted.

“QinetiQ is excited to be working with Helsing and its partners to accelerate the delivery of novel approaches in Anti-Submarine Warfare. We will bring our extensive data architecture, integration, and assurance capabilities to deliver a trusted and scalable solution to allied navies,” Simon Cooper, Sector Business Development Director, QinetiQ, commented.