Zeabuz has taken a decisive step into the defense and security domain with the launch of its Dual-Use Autonomy Platform. The launch was unveiled together with Damen Shipyards Group during the Damen Maritime Festival, marking a transformative moment in the company’s evolution and positioning Zeabuz as a technology provider serving both civilian and naval applications.

Zeabuz is a member of both Ocean Autonomy Cluster (OAC) and NORDSEC Defence and Security Cluster, and part of the FI Ocean Spacer Incubator. This strategic positioning reflects the company’s growing role at the intersection of ocean technology, defense, and maritime innovation.

Transforming vessels into force multipliers

The Zeabuz Dual-Use Autonomy Platform is designed to transform naval vessels into force multipliers: remotely instructed, autonomously navigated, and capable of adjusting mid-mission without continuous oversight. The platform has been integrated on the ZeaFalcon, a seven-meter Damen HDPE Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) optimized for defense and security missions. It includes a suite of advanced operational features such as autonomous navigation, collision avoidance, remote command and control, autodocking, and connectivity-denied operations.

The system is well suited for a wide range of naval operations, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, sharp missions, and logistical or littoral support. By enabling remote and autonomous functionality, it allows operators to manage complex missions efficiently and safely.

Official launch during Damen Maritime Week. From left: Levi Jamt (Lead Developer Human Machine Teaming), Carl Johansson (VP Commercial & Strategy), Øyvind Smogeli (CEO & CTO), Henrik Stray (COO) & Robin Stokke (Autonomy Engineer).

A response to growing operational needs

“This launch represents a new chapter for Zeabuz,” said Øyvind Smogeli, CEO & CTO of Zeabuz. “Our scalable autonomy platform has already proven its value in commercial operations, and now we are bringing these capabilities to the defense and security sector. By entering the naval market, we are expanding our mission: delivering autonomy that saves lives, strengthens resilience, and enhances operational capacity across the maritime domain.”

The ZeaFalcon demonstrates how advanced autonomy can protect lives and strengthen mission capability at sea. By reducing the need for human presence in high-risk environments, the platform enables safer ISR, SAR and mine countermeasure missions, while allowing a single operator to control multiple vessels simultaneously.

Øyvind Smogeli, CEO & CTO of Zeabuz.Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Fremtidens industri

Ready for real missions

With this launch, Zeabuz is making scalable, dual-use maritime autonomy operational and accessible for real naval missions. The company plans to continue developing its defense and security offering in close collaboration with industry and government partners. This will ensure that maritime operators can deploy safe, cost-efficient and reliable autonomy solutions across vessel sizes and mission types, from small uncrewed platforms to large, crewed ships.

Photo: Zeabuz