Dutch MoD Selects OPTICS11 for Containerised Sonar & Anti-Submarine Warfare

The Dutch Ministry of Defence has contracted subsea sensing specialist OPTICS11 to develop and deliver operational containerised towed array systems under the Anti-Submarine Warfare In A Box programme.

Traditionally integrated into a limited number of specialised naval vessels, towed array systems provide essential underwater detection. By adapting its OptiArray technology into a portable, containerised configuration, OPTICS11 allows navies to gain advanced sonar sensing capabilities across a much broader fleet. Existing crewed and uncrewed maritime platforms can be retrofitted according to operational requirements, turning wider sensing availability into a strategic advantage as drone usage expands exponentially.

The contract under the Anti-Submarine Warfare In A Box (ASWINABO) initiative aims to strengthen the readiness and self-sufficiency of the Royal Netherlands Navy while continuing its adoption of OPTICS11 technology. The development comes at a time when autonomous underwater systems are becoming more widely available, making subsea and maritime infrastructure an increasingly attractive target for espionage, sabotage, and hybrid threats. Consequently, sophisticated underwater monitoring has become a critical component of national security.

Unlike conventional electrical towed arrays that rely on powered electronics throughout the sensing chain, generating electrical noise and remaining susceptible to electromagnetic interference, the OptiArray system is built on passive fibre-optic hydrophone technology. Because it operates passively, the array remains acoustically silent while capturing richer acoustic information, enabling earlier detection, more accurate target classification, and greater operational confidence for tactical decision-making.

Paul Heiden, CEO of OPTICS11, said, “The underwater threat environment is evolving rapidly, but advanced threat sensing has traditionally been confined to a small number of specialist naval platforms. By containerising OptiArray, we’re making world-class detection faster, more flexible and cheaper. We want to set the standard for unmanned underwater and above-water drones, as our technology is a perfect fit for doing this: light, small, highly sensitive and very accurate. As critical subsea infrastructure becomes increasingly contested, prevention starts with detection.”

Lucas Leppink, Captain RNLN (OF-5) and Head of the Maritime Systems Department at COMMIT (NL-MoD), added, “With ASWINABO, the Royal Netherlands Navy will be able to equip its surface ships, unmanned surface vessels and any other vessel of opportunity with underwater surveillance capability, a game-changer for maritime security operations and undersea infrastructure protection.”

Alongside the delivery of operational systems, the project will establish the production, integration, and validation infrastructure required to support future deployment at scale. Investment in manufacturing readiness and supply chain resilience will mature core technologies for future programmes while strengthening the ability of the Netherlands to rapidly field advanced underwater sensing capabilities as operational requirements evolve.