Ocean Aero
Ocean Aero manufactures the TRITON, the world's first wind- and solar-powered Autonomous Underwater and Surface Vehicle (AUSV), serving US and allied defense, ocean research, and offshore-energy customers with persistent autonomous subsea and surface data collection.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Ocean Aero does
Ocean Aero, Inc. is a privately held Delaware corporation, founded in 2012 and headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi after relocating from San Diego in 2021. The company designs, manufactures, and operates the TRITON Autonomous Underwater and Surface Vehicle (AUSV), described as the world's first and only wind- and solar-powered platform capable of sustained surface sailing (30+ days at up to 5 knots) and autonomous submergence (5+ days at 2 knots to depths of 100 meters). The TRITON combines stealth features, a low radar cross section, an agnostic payload architecture, and a fleet-management GUI to serve defense, research, and offshore-energy clients across use cases including ISR, MCM, ASW, EW, bathymetry, oceanographic monitoring, and subsea infrastructure inspection. Ocean Aero monetizes through three primary models: direct procurement (hardware sales of TRITON fleets), Mission-as-a-Service (a company-owned, company-operated model), and Non-Recurring Engineering for custom payload development, supplemented by training and support services. The company has raised capital through a Series C (July 2021, led by Advantage Capital and CDVCA), a $4 million SEC Form D exempt offering (September 2022), and a Series D in January 2026 backed by Lockheed Martin, Teledyne Marine, Energy Innovation Capital, and James Fisher and Sons, with named customers including US Defense, US Homeland Security, NOAA, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and KAUST.
Ocean Aero firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ocean Aero
- Legal name
- Ocean Aero, Inc.
- Website
- https://oceanaero.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ocean Aero manufactures the TRITON, the world's first wind- and solar-powered Autonomous Underwater and Surface Vehicle (AUSV), serving US and allied defense, ocean research, and offshore-energy customers with persistent autonomous subsea and surface data collection.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ocean Aero industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Autonomous Unmanned Maritime Systems
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine & Underwater Robotics (USVs/UUVs) (HDAAAIAH)
Keywords
Where Ocean Aero is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ocean Aero business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- TRITON Vehicle Sales: Direct procurement model where customers purchase their own fleet of TRITONs, putting the power of the technology directly into their hands. One-time hardware sales of the autonomous vessel system.
- Mission-as-a-Service: Company-owned-company-operated (COCO) model where Ocean Aero and worldwide partners manage and maintain any number of TRITONs directed at the customer's mission. Flexible operational service model.
- Custom Payload Development (NRE): Non-Recurring Engineering model where Ocean Aero engineers partner with customer champions to develop unique solutions for new applications beyond standard payloads.
- Training and Support Services: Concise training courses performed at customer or Ocean Aero sites, spare parts packages with three tiers of priority components, and field application engineers for on-location or remote support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | One-time purchase | Procurement Model - Fleet Ownership |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Mission-as-a-Service / COCO Model |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom Payload Development (NRE) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Standard Payloads |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
Ocean Aero product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ocean Aero designs, manufactures, and operates the TRITON, the world's first and only Autonomous Underwater and Surface Vehicle (AUSV) that uses wind and solar energy to autonomously sail on the ocean surface for 30+ days and submerge underwater for 5+ days, collecting data above and below the ocean surface. The company sells TRITON vehicles directly, operates them on behalf of customers under a Mission-as-a-Service model, and develops custom payloads through non-recurring engineering engagements.
Product overview
Ocean Aero offers a unified product and service portfolio centered on the TRITON Autonomous Underwater and Surface Vehicle (AUSV). The TRITON is the world's first and only AUSV capable of both surface sailing and underwater submergence, powered by wind and solar energy. The portfolio includes the TRITON itself (with Generation III being the current version), a communication platform for data relay, standard pre-packaged payloads for common applications, custom payload development via NRE arrangements, and mission-as-a-service operational models. Customers can purchase TRITONs outright or access them through company-operated services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- TRITON: World's first and only Autonomous Underwater and Surface Vehicle (AUSV) - wind and solar powered vehicle that can sail and submerge autonomously to collect data both above and below the ocean's surface
Products and services
- TRITON Autonomous Underwater and Surface Vehicle (AUSV) The world's first and only wind- and solar-powered autonomous underwater and surface vehicle, capable of sailing autonomously for 30+ days on the ocean surface and submerging autonomously for 5+ days underwater. Designed for defense, research, and offshore energy customers needing persistent maritime data collection.
- Mission-as-a-Service (COCO Model) Company-owned-company-operated service where Ocean Aero manages and maintains any number of TRITON vehicles for customer-specified missions, providing turn-key autonomous maritime data collection without requiring customers to own or operate the vehicles themselves.
- Custom Payload Development (NRE) Customized payload development program where Ocean Aero engineers partner with customers to design and build unique sensor and tooling payloads beyond the pre-packaged standard offerings, enabling niche mission capabilities.
- Training and Support Services Concise training courses, spare parts packages in three priority tiers, and field application engineer support delivered on-location or remotely for fleet-owning customers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30+ days autonomous surface operation on solar and wind power
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Ocean Aero
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ocean Aero technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Ocean Aero partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)corePartnership for Reefscape Restoration Initiative - largest reef restoration project in the world. KAUST deployed TRITONs for bathymetric data collection, HD video footage, and water chemistry sampling around Shushah Island in the Red Sea to support coral reef restoration efforts.
- NEOMcoreStrategic partner in the Reefscape Restoration Initiative alongside KAUST, focused on restoring 100 hectares of reef surrounding Shushah Island in the Red Sea by 2025.
- Saudi Shelf SubseaminorPartnered with Ocean Aero to deploy TRITONs for reef mapping operations in the Red Sea as part of the KAUST-led reef restoration initiative.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ocean Aero competitors and assessment
Company assessmentPeers
Direct peers
- Saildrone: Saildrone builds wind- and solar-powered autonomous surface vehicles for defense, research, and commercial ocean data — the closest conceptual analog to Ocean Aero's TRITON, though without the subsea diving capability.
- Liquid Robotics (a Boeing company): Liquid Robotics produces the wave-glider Wave Glider, a long-endurance autonomous surface platform for persistent ocean observation. Directly comparable to TRITON's surface-sailing persistence mission, but again lacks diving capability.
- HII (Huntington Ingalls Industries): HII manufactures the REMUS family of unmanned underwater vehicles widely used by the US Navy for MCM, EOD and survey missions, making it the most established US-based UUV peer for Ocean Aero's subsea payload use cases.
- Kongsberg Maritime: Kongsberg produces the HUGIN and other AUVs/USVs used in offshore energy and defense survey work, competing with Ocean Aero in subsea inspection and AUV-based offshore energy monitoring missions.
- Teledyne Marine: Teledyne Marine manufactures a broad portfolio of AUVs (Gavia) and subsea sensors, and is also a Series D investor in Ocean Aero — both a direct competitor in subsea platforms and a channel partner for payload integration.
- Oceaneering International: Oceaneering operates one of the world's largest fleets of work-class ROVs and AUVs for offshore energy and defense survey work, directly comparable to Ocean Aero's energy-segment subsea inspection use cases.
Broad incumbents
- Anduril Industries: Anduril is a venture-backed defense autonomy incumbent building the Dive-LD AUV and Ghost/Roadrunner unmanned platforms, competing for similar DoD autonomous-maritime program dollars and shifting defense procurement toward software-defined autonomy.
- Lockheed Martin: Lockheed Martin develops the Marlin MK2 AUV and other unmanned maritime systems, and is also a Series D investor in Ocean Aero — making it both a competitor in subsea autonomy and a strategic partner for federal capture.
Regional players
- Saab (Sea Wasp / Sabertooth): Saab produces the Sea Wasp and Sabertooth AUVs for mine countermeasures and inspection, primarily serving European and allied defense markets — comparable platform technology but with limited US defense footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ocean Aero social profiles
Digital presenceOcean Aero financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ocean Aero leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles26 records
Ocean Aero funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ocean Aero M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ocean Aero
What does Ocean Aero do?
Ocean Aero designs, manufactures, and operates the TRITON, the world's first and only Autonomous Underwater and Surface Vehicle (AUSV) that uses wind and solar energy to autonomously sail on the ocean surface for 30+ days and submerge underwater for 5+ days, collecting data above and below the ocean surface. The company sells TRITON vehicles directly, operates them on behalf of customers under a Mission-as-a-Service model, and develops custom payloads through non-recurring engineering engagements.
Is Ocean Aero a public or private company?
Ocean Aero is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Ocean Aero founded?
Ocean Aero was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ocean Aero based?
Ocean Aero is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ocean Aero make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. TRITON Vehicle Sales are the primary driver. The others are mission-as-a-Service, custom Payload Development (NRE) and training and Support Services.
Who are Ocean Aero's main competitors?
AutoNaut is listed as a peer. Direct peers are Saildrone, Liquid Robotics (a Boeing company), HII (Huntington Ingalls Industries), Kongsberg Maritime, Teledyne Marine and Oceaneering International. Broad incumbents are Anduril Industries and Lockheed Martin. Saab (Sea Wasp / Sabertooth) is listed as a regional player.
Does Ocean Aero have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ocean Aero.
What industry is Ocean Aero in?
Ocean Aero's product category is Autonomous Unmanned Maritime Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAAAIAH, Marine & Underwater Robotics (USVs/UUVs). Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.