Fiji to deploy Australian-made solar-powered maritime drones
The Bluebottle drones can stay at sea for months and will patrol Fiji’s waters for drug traffickers and other threats.
Australia will provide Fiji with solar-powered maritime drones called Bluebottle to patrol its waters, according to a deal announced on Friday. The drones, manufactured in Sydney, can stay at sea for months, powered by solar and wind energy. They are named after a small, stinging jellyfish found on Australian beaches. The drones will be used to detect drug traffickers and other threats, as Fiji struggles to patrol vast Pacific waters due to its small population.
Australia's Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy stated the drones carry sonar equipment to detect vessels and submarines. Australia pledged AU$600 million (US$420 million) to Pacific Island countries last month to combat organised crime at sea. The drones, operated by Australian company Ocius from a base in Darwin, will be deployed in Fiji next year.
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- Fiji to deploy Australian-made solar-powered maritime drones freemalaysiatoday.com
