MARSS Group to debut NiDAR on front-line combat ships in milestone $20million contract
6 February 2024 – MARSS Group, a leading provider of AI-powered security solutions, recently announced a landmark contract win valued at over $20m, marking the first time its NiDAR systems will be operational on combat-facing vessels.
MARSS Group’s NiDAR C2 ‘Command & Control’ system protects assets and people, across all domains, including ships and yachts, critical infrastructure sites, operating bases, and civilian urban environments.
2023 marked a big step for the Group as its NiDAR surface and CUAS air surveillance system was installed and made operational on M/V Asterix, a naval auxiliary ship to the Royal Canadian Navy; the first time NiDAR was put to use on a NATO-associated vessel.
This latest agreement, signed December 2023, marks yet another milestone, as MARSS Group’s market-leading NiDAR platform will be employed on a series of combat-facing vessels for the first time.
The contract, commissioned by a South-East Asian client, involves the installation of NiDAR and associated sensors, by MARSS, to multiple Corvette-class vessels. The NiDAR platform will fuse a range of new and legacy sensors – including sonar, navigational radars and infrared cameras – into a single user interface, to provide a highly accurate and rapid means of detecting and classifying underwater and surface threats, towards the vessel, when in transit, at anchor and at port.
The project, beginning this year, is expected to run until 2029, with the first vessel due for final handover in 2026.
Expanding to combat-facing vessels marks a significant step forward for the Group. Rob Balloch, Chief Growth Officer, commented, “Following the installation of NiDAR onto a NATO vessel last year, we are thrilled to move into the realm of Navy Corvettes in 2024. It’s a major leap for MARSS Group to find itself on board combat ships for the first time – providing class-leading, cost-effective protection – and we couldn’t be prouder that our NiDAR technology will be on the front line to support and protect those dedicated to our safety and security.”
Images courtesy MARSS