Ocius Technology has expanded its manufacturing capacity in Sydney with a new engineering, production and maintenance facility to support increased production of its Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) for Australian and international customers.
The facility was officially opened on 16 October 2026 by Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy, with representatives from the Royal Australian Navy, customers, partners and industry stakeholders attending the ceremony.
According to Ocius, production is scaling up to deliver 40 additional Australian-designed and built Bluebottles under the Australian Government’s $176 million investment announced in March 2026, alongside forecast international orders.
The upgraded site includes dedicated research and development areas for the Bluebottle platform, sensors, autonomy and mission systems. It also houses a new Global Operations Centre designed to support round-the-clock monitoring and coordination of multiple missions for defence and civilian customers worldwide.
Ocius chief executive officer Robert Dane said the expansion would help the company increase production and support vessels already operating at sea.
“The opening is an important next step in Ocius’ evolution and our ability to deliver sovereign maritime technology at scale for customers in Australia and around the world,” Dane said.
“Ocius began as an R&D operation at UNSW. Today, we have a major Australian manufacturing base, a 24/7 Global Operations Centre and an expanding international presence.”
The company, which employs more than 130 people, said the additional engineering, manufacturing and technical space would accommodate workforce growth. The Sydney facility also produces the Bluebottle Hybrid, which uses diesel as a supplementary fuel source.
Conroy said the expansion would help supply vessels to the Royal Australian Navy and meet international demand. He added that Ocius had created more than 70 jobs over the previous 12 months while supporting businesses and employment across its supply chain.
Minister for Industry and Innovation Tim Ayres said the facility demonstrated how Australian research and innovation could be translated into advanced manufacturing and locally developed products.
“Facilities like this show the strength of Australian advanced manufacturing, turning home-grown research and innovation into high-value jobs, sovereign capability and products that can compete globally,” Ayres said.
The Sydney expansion follows the establishment of Ocius’ first overseas advanced maritime maintenance base in Auckland, New Zealand, operated by its wholly owned subsidiary, Ocius New Zealand.
The company’s Bluebottle vessels use solar, wind and wave energy to remain at sea for extended periods, providing maritime surveillance and intelligence capabilities for defence, customs and other agencies.
