Sector: Maritime Security

Illicit maritime activity is growing in complexity, and scale.  

• Adversaries challenge maritime borders.  

• Narcotics transshipment is hard-to-detect in a vast ocean.  

• Illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing harms fisheries and emboldens non-state actors. 

• Undersea cables are targeted for sabotage or damaged by negligent seafarers.  

 

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How can security forces respond to these rising threats?  

Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) is essential for safeguarding shared security, economic prosperity, and environmental stability. Transnational criminal organizations exploit maritime routes for narcotics trafficking, human smuggling, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing - activities that erode governance and threaten regional stability. Coordinated MDA efforts enable early detection and interdiction of these threats, strengthening collective capacity to secure maritime borders and protect critical resources. Joint operations and intelligence sharing have already proven effective in disrupting drug trafficking networks and deterring IUU fishing, which remains one of the most significant global maritime security challenges. 
 

Emerging risks in the undersea domain (such as threats to subsea infrastructure and the use of semi-submersible vessels) underscore the need for deeper situational awareness below the surface. To address these challenges without escalating fleet costs, a hybrid approach that integrates crewed assets with uncrewed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms offers a cost-effective solution. Uncrewed surface and subsurface systems provide persistent coverage and data integration, extending operational reach and resilience. By leveraging these technologies collaboratively, you can enhance shared MDA, improve interoperability, and ensure a secure and rules-based maritime order. 

What technologies are available? 
 

Advanced sensor systems and uncrewed platforms represent a force multiplier, delivering persistent maritime domain awareness (MDA) at a fraction of the cost of expanding traditional fleets. Current solutions (such as satellites and aerial drones) offer only limited coverage windows and come with high operational costs or range constraints. Radar-based systems, while cost-effective, cannot see beyond the horizon and lack the capability to detect subsurface threats like low-profile vessels and narcotics-carrying semi-submersibles. These gaps leave critical vulnerabilities in the maritime domain. 

 

Our Solution 
ThayerMahan provides a proven solution: wide-area, persistent MDA through advanced surface-to-seabed acoustic surveillance systems. Outpost®, SeaPicket®, and TransparenSea® technologies deliver real-time, actionable intelligence across the full water column, enabling early detection of illicit activity and safeguarding sovereignty. Backed by decades of operational expertise, these scalable, autonomous systems integrate seamlessly into a hybrid fleet concept - augmenting crewed assets with uncrewed ISR capabilities to extend reach and outpace adversaries. Investing in these capabilities positions you to lead in next-generation maritime security. 

ThayerMahan delivers a force-multiplying solution that empowers you to achieve persistent maritime domain awareness without the prohibitive cost of expanding fleets. By combining advanced acoustic sensing with autonomous platforms, our systems provide real-time intelligence from surface to seabed, enabling partners to protect sovereignty, enforce law, and secure critical resources - together. 

Persistent, Actionable Coverage 

• Detect and deter IUU fishing, narcotics trafficking, and migrant smuggling in real time 

• Monitor high-risk transit corridors and exclusive economic zones (EEZs) 

• Strengthen maritime security posture while enhancing crew safety 

• Establish deterrence through persistent presence and rapid response capability 

• Flexible, Interoperable Implementation 

 

• Seamless integration with existing command centers and data systems 

• Layered surveillance architecture enabling coordinated interdiction and enforcement 

• Continuous updates on evolving contact profiles for informed decision-making 

Scalable, Cost-Effective Deployment 

• Rapidly deployable at a fraction of the cost of traditional platforms 

• Multiplies the effectiveness of existing air and surface assets 

• Minimal training and sustainment requirements for partner nations 

• Dual-use capability for security of offshore energy, subsea infrastructure, and resource zones 

 

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At ThayerMahan, we don't just monitor the maritime domain - we secure it. Our team combines deep operational experience with cutting-edge acoustic technologies to deliver persistent, real-time maritime domain awareness. Whether protecting maritime borders, ports and terminals, or national fisheries resources, we provide scalable, field-ready solutions that illuminate threats, protect assets, and enable decisive action. 

We are trusted by government agencies and commercial operators alike because we deliver what others promise: operational impact, not theoretical capability. 

 

ThayerMahan's value lies in our ability to bridge the gap between innovation and execution. We offer: 

• Mission-Ready Technology – Proven systems deployed today, not years from now 

• Dual-Sector Relevance – Solutions designed for both defense and commercial offshore use 

• Operational Expertise – Led by seasoned maritime professionals, as well as Coast Guard and Navy veterans 

• Scalable Architecture – Systems that grow with your mission, not your budget 

• Rapid Deployment – Fast fielding with minimal infrastructure or training requirements 

 

• Persistent Surveillance – Continuous monitoring of high-risk zones, chokepoints, and transit lanes 

• Autonomous Operation – Low-SWaP systems that operate independently for months at sea 

• Real-Time Intelligence – Actionable data delivered directly to operations centers enable rapid responses such as cueing and interdiction 

• Interoperability – Seamless integration with existing systems 

• [Integration with Port Security - link to Port Security] 

• Cost Efficiency – A fraction of the cost of legacy platforms, with faster ROI 

• Crew Safety – Enhancing situational awareness to protect personnel and assets