HavocAI has completed a live demonstration that challenges long held assumptions about maritime operations in contested environments. The test highlights how autonomous systems could operate when satellite navigation and constant connectivity are no longer assured.
HavocAI has carried out what it describes as the world’s first successful demonstration of fully integrated air and sea autonomy in a GPS denied environment. The live event took place off Troia, Portugal, and brought together autonomous surface vessels and unmanned aerial vehicles operating as a coordinated system under real world conditions.
During a series of runs, HavocAI’s platforms maintained mission performance despite degraded signals, using alternative navigation and timing methods. The systems were managed through a single command interface and demonstrated real time coordination between air and surface assets, without reliance on satellite positioning.
The demonstration focused on practical operational scenarios. Sensor data from both domains was fused to provide maritime domain awareness, while a designated vessel of interest was identified, tracked and engaged through automated processes. According to HavocAI, the mission showed that complex maritime operations can be executed autonomously even when communications are disrupted.
For naval operators and defence authorities, the test reflects growing concern over contested coastal and open sea environments where GPS and persistent connectivity cannot be assumed. The ability to deploy systems that can sense, interpret and act independently is increasingly seen as central to future maritime strategy.
“This demonstration cements HavocAI’s position as a leader in next-generation autonomous maritime systems, bringing to market capabilities that were previously theoretical or confined to simulation,” said Paul Lwin, Chief Executive Officer at HavocAI. “As global defence forces accelerate their shift toward distributed autonomy, HavocAI is delivering operational, field-ready systems that redefine what’s possible in multi-domain coordination. This is a paradigm shift in how navies think about distributed operations in contested seas and is a key milestone to putting thousands of autonomous platforms in the Pacific in the next two years.”
All elements of the mission were controlled through Havoc Control, the company’s single screen interface that allows one operator to task, monitor and synchronise different autonomous systems in real time. The event was observed by representatives from allied navies, defence innovation bodies and multinational partners.
While the application is primarily military, the demonstration underlines a broader trend in maritime operations. Resilient autonomy, reduced reliance on external signals and tighter integration between platforms are becoming defining features of next generation systems at sea.
