Marintec™ Secures ASCA Contract to Advance Human-AI Teaming in Naval Sustainment

Marintec™, the Maritime Institute of Technology, Navantia Australia’s joint institute with the University of Technology Sydney, has been awarded a $3.26 million contract from the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) to develop Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning Human–AI Teaming framework.

Funded under ASCA’s Emerging and Disruptive Technologies program, the three-year project will create new ways for human operators and AI systems to collaborate in fast-paced, complex decision-making environments, enhancing the effectiveness and responsiveness of naval sustainment and maintenance operations at sea.

Frank Jensen, Director of Marintec commented that “this project gives naval sustainment teams a real decision advantage by helping people and AI work side by side to make faster, better-informed decisions when it matters most.”

Ross Yannatos, Navantia Australia’s Chief Information and Technology Officer highlights that “this program builds on Navantia Australia’s deep, practical knowledge of vessel operations and optimises asset performance.”

Navantia Australia Managing Director Israel Lozano said the partnership highlights the importance of applied research. “Collaborating with academia is essential to delivering real world capability,” he said. “Applied research is how we turn emerging technologies into practical solutions that address today’s operational and sustainment challenges.”

The initiative is set to deliver significant advancements in digital sustainment technologies, supporting the development of more integrated, automated, and resilient naval platforms. By establishing a foundation for next‑generation AI‑enabled systems, the project will help position the Royal Australian Navy to adopt smarter, more adaptive capabilities, improving fleet readiness and operational superiority into the future.

About Navantia Australia

Navantia Australia designs, integrates and supports naval maritime platforms and systems for the Royal Australian Navy. We are recognised as a Design Authority by the Commonwealth of Australia for the Canberra Class Landing Helicopter Docks (LHD) and Landing Craft, Hobart Class Guided Missile Destroyers (DDG) and Supply Class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment (AOR) Ships. At Navantia Australia, we are committed to growing our local workforce and links to the Australian Supply Chain to best support the growth of a truly Australian naval shipbuilding and sustainment industry.

As a leader in shipbuilding and maritime solutions, Navantia Australia is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of naval innovation. We have a commitment to developing advanced systems and technologies that enhance the capabilities, efficiency, and sustainability of the modern naval industry. Navantia Australia is committed to dynamic change and improvement and where possible we seek new equipment and processes to deliver improvements in cost, quality, efficiency and performance.