From CONOPS to Kill Chains: Building the Architecture of Subsea Dominance
In Ernest Hemingway’s novel The Sun Also Rises, Mike Campbell describes his progression toward bankruptcy as happening “gradually, and then suddenly.”Hemingway may have been portraying financial troubles, but the same might be said for the evolution of undersea warfare. What began years ago as broad, visionary concepts of operation (CONOPS) has given way to a rapid proliferation of increasingly capable autonomous systems. The next phase is now underway: moving from a collection of concepts and technologies toward integrated, distributed kill chains. The following vignettes illustrate
Matthew Zirkle Appointed CEO of SubSea Craft US
SubSea Craft (SSC) has appointed Matthew Zirkle as Chief Executive Officer of SubSea Craft USA, marking a step in the company's continued expansion across the United States. The announcement comes at a pivotal time for SSC as the company accelerates its expansion across the United States. The appointment also supports SSC's broader international expansion as the company continues to grow across key allied markets such as Australia.Zirkle brings leadership experience across defense, maritime industry and business operations, having held President and CEO roles within the defense sector and
Dredging is Building the Next Generation of Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Ports
to tell. Major channel projects have been completed. Ports are investing in new capacity. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and its partners are advancing more work across the region. At the same time, maintenance dredging keeps the channels that the private sector dredging industry built open for business.That progress is easy to see in Virginia. In February 2026, dredging was substantially completed on the Port of Virginia’s $450 million harbor and channel improvement project. The port now has a 55-foot-deep commercial shipping channel, the deepest on the East Coast (for now). Earlier
Fugro, EirGrid Complete Marine Surveys for Irish Offshore Wind Link
EirGrid has completed its 2026 marine and coastal survey campaign for Ireland's Powering Up Offshore – South Coast program, with Fugro carrying out investigations to support the development of grid infrastructure for approximately 900 MW of offshore renewable energy.The campaign involved almost 70,000 hours of survey work across 2,337 kilometers of maritime area, gathering environmental, geophysical and geotechnical data to inform future offshore energy infrastructure, according to announcements from EirGrid and Fugro.The surveys will support engineering, environmental and planning assessments
Med Subsea Cable Project Applies to Resume Seabed Research
Greece said on Thursday the developer of an EU-backed undersea power cable scheme in the eastern Mediterranean has applied for a license to resume seabed surveying, key for the long-delayed project to move ahead.Construction of the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) aims to link the European mainland to Cyprus and later Israel, but is opposed by Turkey.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Athens last week said the US was "very committed" to the project as it promotes energy supply diversification, necessary due to Russia's war in Ukraine and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.Greece's
Fincantieri Acquires Subsea Telecommunications Specialist Xtera
in subsea telecommunications systems, through the joint venture between Prysmian (80%) and Fincantieri (20%).The transaction, announced in December 2025, marks a further step in the Group’s strategic development in the underwater sector and subsea infrastructure. Against a backdrop of growing demand for global connectivity, the expansion of data centers, and the accelerating pace of digitalization and artificial intelligence, subsea telecommunications networks are playing an increasingly vital role in ensuring the resilience of critical infrastructure and the continuity of digital flows.The addition
Taiwan Coast Guard Administration Acquires MARTAC Devil Ray T24 USVs
agreement to procurement.The terms of the deal involve a co-production model, with a number of USVs to be manufactured at one of MARTAC’s strategic partner’s facility in Edgewater, Florida, with the remainder built by Confucian in Taiwan. The Devil Ray T24 is a 27.5 foot (8.4 m) high-performance autonomous surface vessel capable of burst speeds exceeding 50 knots. The T24 is designed to support a wide range of missions for coast guard and military organizations operating in complex maritime environments.The co-production element of the deal is projected to create workforce development
Petrobras Picks TechnipFMC for Flexible Flowlines Delivery off Brazil
TechnipFMC has been awarded a subsea contract worth between $75 million and $250 million by Petrobras to supply flexible pipe systems for multiple pre-salt developments offshore Brazil.The contract, awarded following a competitive bidding process, covers the design, engineering and manufacture of flexible flowlines for use across several pre-salt fields.TechnipFMC said the work will draw on engineering, manufacturing and supply chain capabilities in Brazil.“This award highlights the confidence Petrobras continues to place in TechnipFMC's execution capabilities. Our industry-leading flexible
US Navy, Anduril Unveil $6.6B Shipyard Plan for Submarine Parts Production
, submarine components and autonomous underwater vessels.Under the Navy contract, payments of up to $2.9 billion will be tied directly to demonstrated production outcomes, while Anduril will provide the $3.7 billion private investment.Arsenal-2 will manufacture complex components and large-scale assemblies for Virginia-class attack submarines before delivering them to General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding for final assembly.The additional manufacturing source is intended to allow more submarine construction to take place in parallel and expand overall
August 2026
