L3Harris’ “Rock Lobster” Acoustic Communications System Advances AUKUS Undersea Warfare Capabilities at RIMPAC 2026
RIMPAC 2026, held off the coast of Hawaii in July, gathered 34 nations and over 25,000 personnel aimed at enhancing joint readiness and interoperability among the participating nations. At this pivotal event, L3Harris showcased its Rock Lobster deployable underwater acoustic communication relay system in conjunction with U.S. Navy capabilities, illustrating the potential of allied underwater acoustic communications technologies to operate cohesively beneath the surface.
This type of interoperability is often more challenging than it may appear. The task of transmitting command-and-control information underwater remains one of the most pressing challenges in contemporary naval operations, a complexity magnified by the increasing integration of autonomous systems in maritime missions.
Rock Lobster was developed by L3Harris’ Maritime team in Australia in collaboration with the Royal Australian Navy and the Defence Science and Technology Group. The system has undergone extensive testing and refinement through various exercises, including Autonomous Warrior, the Maritime Innovation Challenge, and the Maritime Big Play series. During RIMPAC 2026, it effectively operated alongside Australia’s Lightfish uncrewed surface vessel from Seasat.
This integration of Lightfish highlights L3Harris’ dedication to collaborating with companies throughout the defense technology ecosystem to deliver advanced solutions tailored to the demands of today’s threat landscape. The relationship between L3Harris and Seasats emerged through a strategic partnership with venture capital firm Shield Capital, aimed at propelling emerging defense and commercial technologies into the hands of warfighters.
“Interoperability doesn’t happen by accident,” said Nino DiCosmo, President of Maritime, Space & Mission Systems at L3Harris. “It takes years of collaboration, testing, and refinement with our partners. RIMPAC 2026 is a reflection of that work and serves as a strong signal of the direction of AUKUS undersea capabilities.”
The outcomes achieved during this exercise reinforce the objectives of AUKUS Pillar II, which focuses on the rapid development and deployment of advanced capabilities among partner nations to detect, deter, and respond to maritime threats.
L3Harris, with 15 locations across Australia employing more than 550 personnel—30% of whom are veterans of the Australian Defence Force—provided mission systems, communication systems, and dedicated support services to the Royal Australian Air Force, Navy, and Army across all domains.
Advancing high-tech undersea warfare capabilities | Defence.gov
Source: L3Harris (2026-10-19)
