- CET selected from a field of more than 3,600 proposals to join NATO DIANA’s exclusive 15-company Mission Track focused on operational adoption at scale
- Mission Track will accelerate adoption of CET’s demonstrated HADALUS autonomous underwater vehicle by Allied nations
BRISTOL, R.I. – Composite Energy Technologies (CET), a developer and manufacturer of scalable autonomous undersea vehicles and integrated subsea systems for demanding defense and commercial missions, today announced that it has been selected as one of only 15 innovators to advance to Mission Track in NATO DIANA’s 2026 Accelerator Programme.
CET was initially selected from more than 3,600 proposals to join DIANA’s 2026 cohort under the Maritime Operations Challenge and progressed through the initial phase of the highly competitive accelerator.
HADALUS is a modular family of large autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) engineered to provide affordable undersea capability at scale. Its flat-pack carbon-fiber architecture supports scalable production, allowing components to be transported globally in standard shipping containers, assembled near the point of need and rapidly configured for different payloads and mission profiles without redesigning the underlying system. This approach reduces the logistical burden associated with conventional large AUVs and gives operators greater flexibility to respond to evolving requirements.
The selection builds on government assessments and operationally relevant demonstrations. Following CET’s participation in Exercise Lanternfish, an AUKUS Pillar II exercise involving Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, HADALUS was assessed by the U.S. Government at Technology Readiness Level 7 and Integration Readiness Level 9. During the exercise, the vehicle was demonstrated in support of port protection and mine countermeasure objectives. CET is also scheduled to demonstrate HADALUS as part of an additional AUKUS Pillar II exercise in October 2026, supporting anti-submarine warfare and the autonomous emplacement of distributed seabed sensing and effects payloads.
CET has also been awarded a U.S. Marine Corps pilot contract for a subsea logistics and resupply variant, including experimentation and training for Marine operators. Manufacturing is supported by an ISO 9001:2015-certified quality management system and a 4,500-square-meter facility capable of limited-rate production.
“Selection for Mission Track reflects the maturity of HADALUS and the relevance of its capabilities to Allied mission requirements,” said Chase Hogoboom, CEO of CET. “We designed this system from the outset to combine scalable manufacturing with rapid mission adaptation. The next phase will allow us to validate those advantages in relevant environments and move the technology closer to operational use.”
During the program, CET will focus on accelerating adoption across Allied maritime missions, validating interoperability through NATO and Allied operational exercises, and establishing sovereign European manufacturing partnerships that support deployment at scale.
HADALUS supports dual-use applications spanning survey, scientific observation and environmental monitoring, as well as defense and security missions including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, critical infrastructure protection, contested logistics and payload deployment. Its open architecture accommodates sensors, autonomy systems and mission payloads based on customer requirements.
About Composite Energy Technologies
Composite Energy Technologies designs, manufactures and integrates advanced composite structures, energy systems and autonomous undersea vehicles for defense and commercial customers. CET specializes in long-endurance, deep-sea systems engineered for scalable production, rapid deployment and demanding operating environments.
The company’s HADALUS family of uncrewed underwater vehicles combines patented composite architecture, advanced subsea energy systems and configurable mission capabilities. CET is headquartered in Bristol, Rhode Island.
For more information, visit www.compositeenergytechnologies.com.
About NATO DIANA
DIANA is the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic, a NATO organisation with a mission to locate and accelerate innovation across the Alliance and fast-track the adoption of those technologies by NATO countries. DIANA helps to bring cutting-edge solutions into the hands of NATO end-users, faster. As NATO Allies invest at unprecedented levels to strengthen collective defence, DIANA is accelerating the adoption of the innovative solutions needed to maintain NATO’s operational and technological edge.
Investor and Media Contact:
Chase Hogoboom
President and CEO
Composite Energy Technologies
Chase.Hogoboom@usacet.com
