The protection of critical underwater infrastructure has become a strategic priority. Pipelines, interconnectors, offshore wind farms, and subsea cables carry the lifeblood of modern economies, yet they remain vulnerable to both deliberate interference and unintentional damage.
At Optics11, we developed OptiBarrier to meet this challenge with precision and reliability.
Over-the-Horizon, Real-Time, 24/7 Detection
Conventional monitoring systems often face limits in range, weather, and response time. OptiBarrier addresses these constraints directly:
- Over-the-horizon detection: capable of sensing subsea activity more than 100 kilometers offshore, extending awareness far beyond the reach of cameras, patrols, or surface sensors.
- Real-time, persistent monitoring: passive optical hydrophones operate continuously, delivering alerts within seconds.
- Resilient 24/7 performance: with no electronics in the water, OptiBarrier remains concealed, dependable, and effective in all sea states and lighting conditions.
This capability provides operators with the early warning and situational awareness needed to protect assets and act before an incident occurs.
Working Together with Saab
OptiBarrier is designed as part of an ecosystem, not as a stand-alone sensor. Saab contributes decades of expertise in defense and maritime systems. When paired with OptiBarrier, the result is a complementary and force-multiplying capability:
- Saab delivers proven above-water surveillance, command, and control.
- Optics11 provides the subsea detection layer, extending reach far beyond the horizon.
- MacArtney provides the subsea pod construction that protects OptiBarrier’s fiber-optic hydrophones and ensures durability on the seabed.
A crucial element of the OptiBarrier system is the sensor pod, developed in collaboration with MacArtney.
Together, these capabilities create a layered and integrated defense framework for governments, navies, and infrastructure operators.
Building a Resilient Maritime Domain
As NATO and allied nations strengthen measures to secure critical underwater infrastructure, collaboration between subsea specialists and defense leaders is essential. OptiBarrier is built to integrate seamlessly into this environment — scalable, flexible, and interoperable with existing command-and-control frameworks.
With Saab and other partners, Optics11 is committed to supporting a more resilient and secure maritime domain.
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