Compass Points - Undersea Secrets

High tech goes under the waves

Feb 12, 2026

Compass Points - Undersea Secrets

High tech goes under the waves

February 12, 2026

The vast oceans of the world have always held secrets. The deep waters are difficult to cross and even more difficult to explore. Yet, with new technologies, the oceans of the world are slowly being forced to give up their secrets as underwater robots explore, report, and target. Marines will benefit from these new technologies.

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WASHINGTON —The Defense Innovation Unit today announced it had selected three companies to develop and prototype unmanned undersea vehicles with a focus on employing payloads for subsea and seabed warfare as well as undersea warfare.

“This project will also drive advancements in underwater engineering, autonomous systems, communications, and shape employment of [Large Displacement Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (LDUUV)] for future naval operations,” according to the DIU statement. “Collectively, with DIU and [the Navy’s program office], these organizations will provide rigorous assessments in order to optimize alignment with an evolving global defense landscape, beginning with live demonstrations in March 2024.”

The three companies selected were Oceaneering International, Kongsberg Discovery and Anduril Industries.

“Our selection takes place at a critical moment for the Department of Defense,” said Anduril CEO and co-founder Brian Schimpf in a statement. “In an era of strategic competition, our [autonomous underwater vehicles] like Dive-LD provide urgently-needed capability to deter maritime threats around the world. We are excited to work with our U.S. Government partners as we look to build advanced, affordable, autonomous capabilities at scale in support of U.S. Navy priorities.”

-- Breaking Defense

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Defense Innovation Unit contract went to fairly large new companies, but, in the undersea sector, there are many other defense startups.

The fundraising site, Venture Radar, maintains a roster of undersea startups. One of many companies is VATN Systems. VATN describes itself as, “Building the future of autonomous underwater vehicles.”

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The Skelmir S12 Modular Underwater Effector is an advanced autonomous system designed to fill the role of AUV & lightweight torpedo, and all the white space in between. This innovative, expendable, and modular underwater system is rapidly manufacturable, offering an effective solution to attrit threats, deploy sensors and decoys on a large scale. Vatn’s mission software enables one user to plan and monitor hundreds of units, a true force multiplier.

The Skelmir S12 offers a solution volume manufactured and priced for mass deployment to threaten adversary fleet assets and logistics. Easily deployed by SOF, air assets, and traditional Naval platforms, it infiltrates enemy defenses undetected with over-the-horizon covert capabilities. S12 can deliver a wide variety of payloads including kinetic, electromagnetic, cyber, or sensor capabilities without requiring vessel integration. It excels in A2AD environments no matter the configuration or role.

-- VATN Systems

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VATN’s Skelmir S12 has the ability to perform better and cheaper many of the missions the Marine Corps plans to assign to the small sensor and missiles off the coast of China, but the Skelmir S12 can execute the missions without the need to have Marine units precariously placed on remote islands.

VATN’s Skelmir S12 is only one example, there are many other companies working on undersea innovation.

A recent post by the Rational Optimist Society details several other firms.

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ROS members know aerial drones have transformed land warfare.

Few realize the same revolution is playing out at sea with none of the hype.

Any future conflict between the US and China (which I think is unlikely) won’t be decided by aerial drones. It won’t even be decided by advanced fighter jets, which have a short leash of around 600 miles.

Ocean drones have no boundaries. Satellite internet turns the middle of the ocean from a communications dead zone into a high-speed network . . . .

5 underrated innovators protecting the oceans

Saronic

The Swarm King

Last year America made just five ships. China built 1,794. One Chinese shipyard now has more output than the entire US maritime industry combined.

That’s why Saronic is one of the most critical defense tech companies in America right now.

Founded by former Navy SEAL Dino Mavrookas, Saronic is building fleets of fully autonomous surface boats.

. . . Anduril

The Predator

. . . Meet Ghost Shark. Roughly the size of a school bus, it’s an autonomous submarine that looks like a sleek spacecraft for the underwater abyss. It can loiter for weeks at immense depths, mapping minefields and hunting enemy subs.

. . . Ulysses

The Gardener

. . . Ulysses is building a customizable underwater drone designed to go anywhere and do anything. You can swap out batteries, add arms, or change sensors like LEGO bricks.

How it works: A surface “Mothership” carries four smaller “Daughter” drones. The droids descend, do their work, and then dock back with the mother to recharge.

A comparable system from defense giants costs millions of dollars. Without giving away specific numbers, Ulysses drones cost at least 10X less.

. . . Poseidon

The Ghost

. . . Poseidon is reviving one of the most exotic technologies of the Cold War: the ekranoplan.

In the 1960s the Soviets built massive “Sea Monster” vehicles that looked like ship-plane hybrids. These sea skimmers ride a cushion of air just above the water, taking advantage of a phenomenon called ground effect. Flying close to the surface reduces drag and boosts lift—the ultimate efficiency multiplier.

The result is something that moves like a fighter jet but skims like a speedboat. Because it flies so low, it avoids radar detection.

Poseidon is transforming the ekranoplan from a Cold War relic into a high-speed workhorse using modern materials and automation.

Last time I visited founder David Zagaynov, Poseidon just launched its first product, Seagull, a sleek 13-foot craft with a 120-mile range.

. . . Amidon Heavy Industries

The Watchman

Inspecting a subsea pipeline or cable today involves hiring a huge, manned ship that costs $200,000 per day. No wonder “stuff” in the ocean is only checked once every year or two.

Amidon Heavy Industries is building a security camera for the ocean floor.

-- Rational Optimist Society 02/08/2026

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There are also rumors of other companies of use to Marines, including companies producing programmable underwater mine fields that would submerge to let Marines sail through and then resurface to block enemy watercraft. Other companies are said to be working on small underwater Amphibious Combat Vehicles that would hold a Marine fire team, transport them underwater, and deposit them safely at night on any beach.

Compass Points salutes all the technology companies working to give more Marines, on more missions, more tools to help locate, close with, and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver.

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Breaking Defense - 02/08/2026