Bluefin-21

Built in the USA by General Dynamics Mission Systems, the Bluefin-21 is a heavyweight-class autonomous underwater vehicle weighing around 750 kg. Its deep-rated, modular hull is engineered for long-endurance oceanographic and defence missions carried out far from a support vessel, making it a workhorse for demanding subsea programmes that need serious payload capacity and range.

The vehicle navigates precisely using a Sonardyne Solstice 3000 Multi-Aperture Sonar together with a Nortek Doppler Velocity Log, and its modular payload bays accept EdgeTech survey sonars and other instruments so mission fits can be tailored. A gimbaled, ducted thruster provides propulsion and fine control, endurance reaches roughly 1,500 minutes, and the proprietary Operator Tool Suite, including Bluefin Dashboard and Bluefin Planner, handles mission planning and real-time monitoring.

As an autonomous underwater vehicle, the Bluefin-21 supports defence, search and rescue, security patrols and telepresence roles. It excels at high-resolution seabed mapping, subsea survey and long-duration ISR, making it valuable for navies, hydrographic offices and offshore operators working across the region's extensive waters. Its endurance and payload margins also make it a strong choice for repeat survey campaigns where consistent, high-quality data across large areas is the priority.

Nexon System supports maritime, defence and research operators across Southeast Asia in fielding the General Dynamics Bluefin-21, covering mission-planning integration, payload configuration, operator training and sustainment. Talk to Nexon to plan a subsea survey or ISR programme around a proven heavyweight platform. Nexon can align mission planning with your existing survey and data-processing tools and arrange training so your crews operate the vehicle with confidence from the first sortie.