HyperKelp Secures $1.8 Million U.S. Air Force Direct To Phase II Contract to Enhance Ocean Surveillance Using Advanced Buoy Technology
Encinitas, CA — HyperKelp has been awarded a $1.8 million Direct To Phase II contract from the U.S. Air Force to advance its innovative Kelp Smart Buoy (KSB) technology, designed for comprehensive ocean surveillance and intelligence gathering. This contract marks a significant step in HyperKelp’s mission to provide the Air Force with reliable, cost-effective tools for monitoring expansive maritime domains in real time.
“We’re honored to partner with the U.S. Air Force to deliver the KSB system, which addresses key challenges in maritime awareness with flexible, persistent, and scalable monitoring capabilities,” said Graeme Rae, PhD, CEO of HyperKelp. “This award underscores the KSB platform’s adaptability to varied mission needs and highlights its role as an essential asset for developing commercial and defense capabilities.”
Under this Phase II effort, HyperKelp will enhance the KSB’s multi-sensor capabilities for multi-domain monitoring across vast ocean regions. The KSB units will integrate with cloud-based sensor fusion and be deployed from government aircraft, enabling them to function as an expansive grid for maritime monitoring, delivering critical data to commercial and defense networks. “The KSB system’s rapid deployment and operational durability make it a powerful tool for safeguarding our strategic interests,” said Costas Soler, CTO of HyperKelp.
The KSB’s versatility has been recognized not only by the U.S. Air Force but also by the National Science Foundation, which awarded HyperKelp a Phase I grant to apply this technology to environmental and atmospheric research. This continued support across defense and research agencies reinforces HyperKelp’s commitment to advancing real-time, scalable intelligence solutions for both government and civilian applications.
About the Kelp Smart Buoy (KSB)
The Kelp Smart Buoy (KSB) is a marine sensing platform. Compatible with over 300 types of environmental, electro-optic, infrared, and radio frequency sensors, the KSB delivers comprehensive maritime and atmospheric intelligence from a compact, buoy-based persistent system. The KSB can be rapidly deployed by existing sensor infrastructure to monitor environmental conditions, surface vessels, and aircraft in remote ocean areas.
About HyperKelp, Inc.
For customers in the federal government, defense, and research, HyperKelp provides maritime intelligence and data. HyperKelp specializes in scalable and cost-effective, buoy-based sensing platforms. The company’s clients span the Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation, and industry, including major defense primes. With its rapidly growing fleet of KSBs, HyperKelp is advancing ocean intelligence with reliable and easily-used intelligence systems.
For more information, please contact:
Graeme Rae – graeme@hyperkelp.com
Costas Soler – costas@hyperkelp.com