Australian sea drones to combat Pacific drug crime

Australia to provide maritime drones to Fiji as part of Pacific security initiative.

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Australia will provide maritime drones to Fiji's military as part of a bid to bolster security in the Pacific. The Australian-made Bluebottle vessels will be gifted as part of a military partnership between the two countries.

The Bluebottle drones can provide reconnaissance and surveillance and can stay at sea for more than 180 days, powered by renewable energy. The drones will be given to Fiji as part of the Waqa Moana partnership, a Pacific-led security initiative to counter organised crime and drug trafficking in the region.

Australia pledged $600 million at the Pacific Islands Forum in September to help implement the partnership. It's expected the Bluebottle drones will be made available to Fiji in early 2027. Defence Minister Richard Marles said the drones would be further strengthen ties with Pacific partners.

The Bluebottle partnership demonstrates how Australian innovation can deliver real-world outcomes for our neighbours and the wider region, according to Defence Minister Richard Marles. It will strengthen Fiji's maritime surveillance capabilities while supporting collective efforts to combat transnational crime.

The Bluebottle partnership coincides with the opening of a manufacturing hub in Sydney for Ocius, the makers of the Bluebottles. The federal government in March signed a $176 million agreement to buy 40 more of the maritime drones for the navy, bringing the total in the fleet to 55.