Enabling non-acoustic detection and persistent underwater awareness for Arctic and global defence missions
Rockland Scientific develops WISKER, a 100% Canadian‑made non‑acoustic turbulence‑sensing system that detects ultra‑quiet submarines and unmanned underwater vehicles by measuring the hydrodynamic wake signatures that sonar cannot reliably capture. WISKER operates passively and remains effective in acoustically complex and ice‑affected Arctic waters, where traditional sonar performance is limited.
Operational Relevance for Canada & Allied Navies
Canada’s expanding focus on Maritime Domain Awareness, NORAD modernization, Arctic sovereignty, and the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP) has created a critical demand for detection tools that work where acoustics fail. WISKER fills this capability gap by delivering real‑time wake detection and target cueing from small autonomous platforms or fixed seabed nodes, providing a scalable sensing layer for persistent surveillance in choke points, littorals, and under‑ice environments.
Technical Foundations & Demonstrated Performance
WISKER builds on Rockland’s three decades of leadership in turbulent‑flow instrumentation.
- DRDC IWAKE program: Joint validation of wake‑signature processing and classification in challenging environments under ISED Innovation Solutions Canada framework.
- WTD71 (Bundeswehr): Comparative trials and performance benchmarking aligned with NATO operational scenarios.
- REPMUS 2026 invitation (German Navy): Upcoming multinational demonstration of WISKER as part of advanced maritime autonomy and ISR exercises.
This R&D foundation confirms WISKER’s readiness for integration into multi‑sensor, multi‑domain surveillance architectures.
Strategic ITB Value for Defence Primes
WISKER directly advances several of Canada’s Key Industrial Capabilities (KICs):
- Marine Ship‑borne Mission Systems
- Sonar & Acoustic Systems (complementary)
- Remotely‑Piloted & Autonomous Systems
- AI & Edge Computing
Rockland provides high Canadian content value, sovereign IP, and export‑compliant engineering teams, making it an attractive vehicle for ITB disbursements—whether through R&D investments, co‑development, or platform integration,
Alignment with Existing & Upcoming ITB Obligations
WISKER offers strong project relevance to current and upcoming primes with major Canadian programs, including:
- Boeing P‑8A – ASW mission enhancement through passive, non‑acoustic sensing.
- Lockheed Martin CSC – Supplemental detection layer for next‑gen frigate combat systems.
- Babcock (Victoria‑Class ISS / CPSP) – Wake analytics and SWARM architecture integration.
- Thales AJISS – Complementing acoustic systems for Arctic & offshore patrol.
- Leonardo, Airbus, Raytheon, GA‑ASI – ISR payload innovation, Arctic surveillance, and R&D investments.
- tkMS – Canadian Patrol Submarine Procurement
- Hanwah Ocean – Canadian Patrol Submarine Procurement
These primes maintain significant unfulfilled ITB obligations, and WISKER provides a credible, scalable, and sovereign Canadian technology pathway for meeting them.
Example Collaboration Pathways for Primes & Tier‑1 Suppliers
- ITB‑Eligible R&D Packages: AI‑enhanced wake classification, edge analytics, turbulence‑vector modelling
- Payload Integration: UUV/USV modules, drop‑in deployables, fixed seabed nodes
- System-of-Systems Fusion: Acoustic + non‑acoustic cueing within naval CMS or ISR networks
- Arctic Choke-Point Arrays: WISKER‑enabled detection architectures for persistent surveillance
- Environmental and Dual‑Use Markets: Offshore wind, marine infrastructure protection, research platforms
Corporate Snapshot
- Rockland Scientific International Inc.
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada - Expertise: Ocean turbulence sensing, embedded electronics, ML/AI model development, deep‑sea engineering, ISR sensor integration
- Track Record: 20+ years of oceanographic instrumentation deployed globally; DRDC‑funded development; international defence collaborations