US defence technology and software developer Integer Technologies and the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) announced on 16 July 2025 that the US Office of Naval Research has awarded their team an applied research contract to support the development of novel software to help the US Navy (USN) maintain maritime dominance and increase its seabed warfare capabilities.
The contract has a USD 25 million (EUR 21.6 million) ceiling with a fully funded initial base period worth USD 4.3 million.
The work, which is being conducted under the Intelligent Autonomous Systems for Seabed Warfare programme, will enhance underwater missions and data collection for unmanned vessels by improving their decision-making capabilities at the edge. This will allow unmanned vessels to adapt more effectively to changing environmental conditions and improve their ability to identify objects on the seafloor.
“Increasing the independence, flexibility, and intelligence of these platforms provides the US fleet with the reliable autonomous operations needed to achieve their mission and national security goals,” Integer stated in a company press release.
Integer and USM will work together to develop a full solution that includes edge-deployed software tools that can assess environmental, platform and mission data to make decisions about how to best collect and process complex datasets. They will also develop predictive tools that leverage advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) that can enable unmanned platforms to adapt their missions in real time.
The programme combines USM’s strengths in ocean engineering and oceanography with Integer’s expertise in creating predictive software models for unmanned platforms that combine data, physics and AI to deliver decision advantage in uncertain environments.
As part of this programme Integer has established an office at USM’s Roger F Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise Facility in Gulfport, Mississippi. This location allows for close collaboration between USM and Integer engineers and scientists and provides convenient access for in-water testing in the Gulf of Mexico.
“This is an ideal moment for this research on software for ocean sensing and seabed warfare,” US Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker, the Chairman of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, was quoted as saying by Integer. “USM’s oceanography expertise will combine with Integer’s predictive technology to help us explore and master the ocean floor: Earth’s last frontier. These unmanned, subsurface vessels will boost the United States’ edge in undersea warfare and support the bustling blue economy along Mississippi’s coast.”
“The navy’s investment in cutting-edge seabed warfare technology in Mississippi reflects well on the critical role our state continues to play in advancing our national security,” added junior US Senator for Mississippi Cindy Hyde-Smith. “The partnership between Integer Technologies and the University of Southern Mississippi will not only strengthen the navy’s capabilities, but also bring high-skill jobs and research opportunities to the Gulf Coast. I’m proud to support initiatives that position Mississippi as a leader in defence innovation and that create opportunities for our students, engineers, and scientists.”
“Integer’s presence in Gulfport will be the epicentre of our work to deploy and test AI-driven software on maritime unmanned systems,” stated Duke Hartman, CEO and co-founder at Integer. “We are grateful to Senators Wicker and Hyde-Smith, USM, and all those in the South Mississippi community who supported this investment in the state. The beautiful Wicker Center offers direct ocean access where our team of Gulfport-based engineers will work alongside USM’s ocean scientists to make unmanned systems more intelligent and effective for our military and commercial customers.”
