FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Dartmouth, Nova Scotia (December 4, 2025) — COVE is proud to announce a groundbreaking new at-sea testing capability to strengthen Canada’s maritime security, fuel innovation, and accelerate the development of dual-use underwater technologies for both defence and commercial markets.
In collaboration with Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), Ultra Maritime (UM) Canada, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), this initiative positions Canada as a global leader in towed array technology development.
This new containerized testing system is purpose-built for at-sea evaluation of next-generation towed-array technologies. Its modular design allows it to be rapidly installed on a wide range of available ships, eliminating the need to divert frontline Navy vessels from their operational missions. This flexibility accelerates experimentation by enabling frequent trials across diverse marine environments.
The system’s scalable architecture supports advanced towed sensor solutions, including active and passive arrays and long-range surveillance systems. By streamlining at-sea testing and integration, it helps advance the development of future anti-submarine warfare capabilities with potential applications across commercial marine and related sectors.
Today, Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth–Cole Harbour, announced a total of $9,690,773 in federal funding toward the project, on behalf of the Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, and the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
“We are transforming the way we develop new technologies for both commercial and defence applications. This collaboration will accelerate the development of advanced underwater sensing systems in a variety of environments, enhancing our Navy’s technological edge,” said MP Fisher. “Today’s investment reinforces our government’s commitment to driving innovation, strengthening national security, and building sovereign testing capacity in Canada.”
As the only Canadian accelerator site selected by NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), and through its role in the newly announced Defence Innovation Solutions Hub (DISH) in Halifax, COVE sits at the heart of Canada’s defence innovation network. This combined innovation strength drives NORAD modernization, advances NATO priorities, enhances continental maritime awareness, and opens pathways for Canadian dual-use technologies to reach allied markets.
“Canada’s marine and defence innovation ecosystem is built on collaboration, expertise, and ambition,” said Melanie Nadeau, CEO of COVE. “This project showcases the power of partnership between industry, government, and research leaders to advance critical underwater sensing and intelligence technologies. COVE is accelerating innovation that strengthens naval readiness, technological sovereignty, and the protection of our maritime approaches.”
Wayne Shaddock, Senior Director Business Development – Canada, Ultra Maritime, added: “Through the support of ACOA, COVE, and DRDC, Ultra Maritime will deliver its state-of-the-art Sea Tracker system—a scalable architecture that can integrate Ultra Maritime’s full suite of towed technologies to rapidly deploy advanced ASW capability, enabling the detection, classification, and tracking of modern submarines across all theatres. DRDC will employ Sea Tracker to drive experimentation and develop next-generation ASW concepts, reinforcing Atlantic Canada’s leadership in defence innovation, and research and development through this strong collaborative partnership.”
This initiative represents a major investment in Canada’s maritime intelligence and innovation ecosystem, strengthening dual-use technology development, enhancing collaborative research, and improving Canada’s readiness in an evolving global security environment.
About COVE
COVE is Canada’s leading marine technology hub, located at the North Atlantic gateway. We accelerate innovation from seabed to space by transforming prototypes into mission-ready, dual-use solutions through real-world testing, commercialization support, and access to critical infrastructure. By driving breakthroughs in defence, energy, and climate sectors, COVE helps ventures scale into sustainable businesses, builds the talent needed for success, and strengthens Canada’s security, economy, and global leadership in marine technology.
Learn more at coveocean.com
About Ultra Maritime
Ultra Maritime is a global leader in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) solutions across airborne, surface and undersea domains, charting a path to the future of unmanned and hybrid maritime dominance. With world-leading ASW technology, experts, decades of experience and significant investments across the business, Ultra Maritime is developing new, unique capabilities at an unprecedented rate. Operating across the U.S., Canada, UK and Australia, Ultra Maritime brings allied navies solutions today for tomorrow’s advantage through strategic partnerships and groundbreaking technology. At Ultra Maritime, the theoretical is suddenly achievable.
Learn more at umaritime.com
About the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
ACOA works to create opportunities for economic growth in the region by helping businesses become more competitive, innovative and productive, by working with diverse communities to develop and diversify local economies, and by championing the strengths of Atlantic Canada.
Learn more at Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency