Chelsea Technologies, Forcys, and Wavefront Systems have formally merged under the Forcys brand. This integration strengthens the new company’s ability to meet the evolving demands of the defence sector and other critical markets, while reinforcing its position as a technical leader in the provision of underwater solutions. The move reflects a continued commitment to innovation and collaboration.

The newly combined organisation will bring together decades of expert engineering excellence, creating a stronger, more integrated offering for customers in defence and security, while continuing to serve blue technology sectors.

Paul Badger, CEO of Forcys, stated: “Combining the three organisations provides us with the critical mass required to deliver against a more ambitious vision. With underwater threats to our critical national infrastructure and peer adversaries that increasingly rely on autonomous platforms, we need to be ready to meet the mission head-on. We are doing exactly that.”

Building on a record-breaking period of defence deliveries, the combined Forcys team is well positioned to help the industry navigate the shift from traditional systems toward a more autonomous future. The new entity will be ideally placed to deliver integrated underwater payloads to support a range of missions from ISR to underwater intruder detection and deterrence.

Ioseba Tena, CCO of Forcys, stated: “Building on the proven defence pedigree of Chelsea Technologies and Wavefront Systems, we are integrating world-class expertise to help our customers outperform the competition by delivering increased value through our integrated underwater sensing solutions. We are confident that this is the right team at the right time to lead the next chapter of industry innovation.”

While the Forcys name will represent the new organisation, Chelsea Technologies will continue as a product brand within the new structure, retaining its long-standing reputation and presence within the blue technology sector providing specialist sensing and water quality monitoring.

This is not an acquisition. It is a coming together of three companies within the same group. The three organisations seek to amplify their impact, improve efficiencies, and better serve customers across all sectors.

At our technology partners’ Wavefront Systems, innovation isn’t just a guiding principle—it’s the foundation of everything they do. Their Solstice Multi Aperture Sonar (MAS) exemplifies this ethos, redefining underwater autonomy by enabling maritime operators to execute missions with enhanced precision, safety, and efficiency.

Solstice MAS represents a significant advancement in sonar technology, achieving a balance between traditional side-scan sonar and synthetic aperture systems. Designed specifically for deployment on small or medium sized autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), it delivers high-resolution imaging akin to synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) while maintaining the durability and simplicity required for real-world operations. Its flexibility makes it suitable for critical missions such as mine hunting, hydrography, salvage, search-and-rescue (SAR), and unexploded ordnance (UXO) removal.

“Solstice strikes the perfect balance between cutting-edge performance and practical deployment,” explained James Spinks, Technical Sales Manager (Asia Pacific) at Forcys. “It’s a system that delivers exceptional imaging while remaining robust and reliable for diverse maritime operations.”

Wavefront has designed Solstice to thrive in varied underwater environments. The system operates effectively at shallow depths of just 8 meters and extends its reach to depths of up to 600 meters. This capability unlocks new possibilities for smaller platforms, equipping them with sonar functionalities that were previously out of reach.

A notable deployment occurred in late 2023 when Wavefront collaborated with Voyis and L3Harris to outfit the Iver4 900 platform with a combined AUV payload. This integrated solution, delivered to a NATO Navy, was engineered to detect, classify, and identify mine-like objects, eliminating the need for personnel to enter dangerous zones.

“By combining Solstice’s detection and classification capabilities with Voyis’ laser scanner and camera, the payload ensures critical identification tasks are conducted remotely,” said Spinks. This advancement is a major step toward safer and more scalable maritime operations.

With features like real-time array calibration and multipath suppression, Solstice ensures consistent image clarity even in challenging seabed conditions. Additionally, its alignment with Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) trends positions it as a ready-to-use solution for fast mission planning, real-time data processing, and reduced logistical complexities.

Far more than just a sonar system, Solstice MAS embodies Wavefront’s and Forcys’ commitment to driving innovation in underwater autonomy. By equipping defense forces and commercial operators with adaptable and reliable tools, it is setting new standards in the evolving landscape of modern maritime operations.