Terradepth the Ocean Operating System
Terradepth’s Absolute Ocean Cleared for Immediate U.S. Navy Use via NIWC
Atlantic RCC Hopper
Selection enables direct prototype awards without further competition, accelerating
Navy adoption for unmanned undersea operations
AUSTIN, Texas – April 9, 2026 – Terradepth, a venture-backed maritime technology
company delivering the Ocean Operating System™, today announced that its Absolute
Ocean® cloud-native data-to-decision platform has been formally moved into the Rapid
Capabilities Office (RCO) Rapid Capabilities Cell (RCC) Hopper at Naval Information
Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic.
The selection follows a successful Phase II Pitch under the NIWC Atlantic Commercial
Solutions Opening (CSO) N65236-26-S-0001, Area of Interest (AOI) 26-A001 for the
Unmanned Naval Innovation Team (UNIT) in Robotics and Autonomous Systems.
An integral component of Terradepth’s pitch was AO OnBoard, an on-vessel, browser-
accessible computing capability that extends the Absolute Ocean platform to the edge,
enabling secure data access and visualization across vessel and shore.
RCC Hopper placement designates Absolute Ocean as a government-evaluated and
immediately available prototype solution. U.S. Navy sponsors can now execute direct
prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreements immediately for up to 24 months. This mechanism enables dramatic acceleration and scaling to deployment for undersea
autonomy, data fusion, and decision advantage.
“This is a pivotal milestone in making Absolute Ocean accessible to government
customers,” said Joe Wolfel, Founder and CEO at Terradepth. “RCC Hopper turns a
rigorous competitive review into an off-the-shelf acquisition option that any USG
customer can use immediately. Our technology is no longer ‘in process’—it is ready to
buy, ready to field, and ready to deliver decisive maritime superiority at the speed of
relevance.”
Absolute Ocean is the software foundation of Terradepth’s Ocean Operating System™,
a fully integrated, end‑to‑end subsea data ecosystem that spans autonomous vehicle
fleets, edge computing, cloud federation, and AI‑driven PED. The platform ingests and
manages a broad range of data types, including raw and processed sonar,
oceanographic, and unmanned system (UxV) data, enabling near real‑time analysis
and collaboration across distributed teams. AO OnBoard accelerates these workflows
by allowing raw data to be visualized directly from the vessel as it is collected, without
relying on post-mission hard-drive transfers or full cloud uploads, even in low-bandwidth
environments.
Designed to operate seamlessly across unclassified and classified environments,
Absolute Ocean supports workflows on NIPRNet, SIPRNet, and TS/SCI domains. The
platform leverages computer vision and custom AI/ML models for automated target
recognition and tipping-and-cueing, delivering a dynamic, 3D common operating picture
for operators. Proven in major U.S. Navy exercises, including TRIDENT SPECTRE,
RIMPAC 2024, and ONR TOEE, Absolute Ocean is currently in operational use by the
U.S. Navy across AWS GovCloud, Navy enclave networks, and deployed edge
hardware.
“Customers and partners have long asked for a unified platform that turns undersea
data into weapons-grade intelligence without years of integration risk,” Wolfel added. “
RCC Hopper validates that Absolute Ocean meets the need and provides the fastest
pathway for the Navy and broader DoD to adopt it now.”
This announcement comes ahead of Terradepth’s exhibition at Sea Air Space 2026
(April 19–22, Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, National Harbor, MD).
Booth visitors will see live demonstrations of the Ocean Operating System™, including
Absolute Ocean’s edge-to-cloud workflow, hybrid LUUV operations, and near real-time
data-to-decision capabilities tailored for contested maritime domains.
About Terradepth
Terradepth (www.terradepth.com) is a venture-backed maritime technology company
building the Ocean Operating System™, a dual-use platform that turns fragmented subsea data into persistent, decision-ready insight for critical underwater environments. Designed for defense and commercial markets, it encompasses the design and deployment of subsea drones and uncrewed systems, autonomous data collection, edge-based data handling, custom application development, and secure cloud access within a unified system.
At the core is Absolute Ocean®, a cloud-native platform that delivers a shared operational picture of the seafloor, enabling faster, more informed decisions across organizations and time. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, with operations in Panama City Beach, Florida, Terradepth serves offshore energy, telecommunications, civil government, and national security markets.
This release is issued in advance of Sea Air Space 2026 to highlight a contracting
acceleration mechanism that directly benefits government teams seeking unified
undersea data platforms.
Media Contact
Sarah Knox
sarah@terradepth.com