Fiji is expected to receive its first Australian-made autonomous maritime surveillance vessels in early 2027 as part of efforts to strengthen maritime security and combat transnational organised crime in the Pacific.
Australian Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy confirmed on Friday, October 16, that Canberra was assisting Fiji in acquiring Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessels developed by Sydney-based Ocius Technology.
The vessels will become sovereign Fijian assets, with the Fijian Government responsible for determining whether they will be operated by the Republic of Fiji Navy or Police.
The number of vessels Fiji will receive and the cost of the arrangement have not been disclosed.
Mr Conroy said the first vessel was expected to be deployed early next year but declined to reveal the total number for operational reasons.
The Bluebottle vessels use solar, wind and wave energy to operate at sea for extended periods without onboard crews.
Equipped with radar, sonar and optical surveillance systems, they can monitor maritime activity and help authorities detect suspicious vessels, including those potentially involved in drug trafficking and other illegal activities.
The announcement comes as Australia expands its own Bluebottle fleet under a A$176 million programme, increasing its planned inventory from 15 to 55 vessels.
The initiative also complements Australia’s A$600 million commitment to the Pacific’s Waqa Moana maritime security initiative, endorsed by regional leaders in September.
For Fiji, the technology is expected to improve surveillance across its vast maritime territory, although interception and enforcement operations will continue to require crewed vessels and other response capabilities.
