Critical infrastructure protection fuels growth in maritime counter-drone market
Operational lessons are pushing navies towards counter-uncrewed aerial systems at sea, creating a fast-emerging industrial opportunity for radar and effector makers.
JFD has partnered with the US Navy’s Naval Surface Warfare Centre – Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) to develop an advanced hands-free combat diver navigation module called the Shadow NAV.
Military combat divers often conduct underwater missions in hazardous and zero visibility conditions. Critical to mission success is having accurate underwater compass and depth readings to assist with navigation while
staying within closed circuit oxygen rebreather depth limits to prevent oxygen toxicity, which can cause significant health risks to the diver. Current handheld or tactical swim board mounted compasses, depth gauges, and chronometers are obsolete in a zero-visibility environment.
The Shadow NAV is fitted to a diver’s standard half mask and provides a clear visual display of the wearer’s compass heading, depth, and time even in near-zero visibility conditions. Through using a mask-mounted head-up display, combat divers are not restricted by the poor visibility mission environment and may not need to carry a tactical swim board.
JFD expects that the small, low-power enhanced navigation capability will significantly improve safety standards for military divers.
Operational lessons are pushing navies towards counter-uncrewed aerial systems at sea, creating a fast-emerging industrial opportunity for radar and effector makers.
The decision points to deepening NATO cooperation and mounting competition in the Arctic and North Atlantic, as Canada opts for a European-designed solution despite interest from South Korea.
The Royal Navy’s transition towards a hybrid fleet could prove to be less about building more hulls and more about delivering the autonomous technologies, AI and digital integration that will support future maritime operations.
The programme’s structure as a marketplace will allow multiple companies to compete for ongoing procurements; an approach which could be replicated across the Atlantic.
Investment in nuclear submarines, autonomous systems and stronger defensive capabilities for existing vessels show a clear strategic shift in Royal Navy priorities.
With a revised Defence Investment Plan on the way ahead of the upcoming NATO Summit on 7-8 July, the UK government has begun to reveal more details of how its future naval fleet could look.