Liquid Robotics and Sagar Defence Engineering Sign MoU to Strengthen Maritime Security
New Delhi, March 19, 2025
Liquid Robotics, a Boeing company, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Sagar Defence Engineering Pvt. Ltd, a leading Indian unmanned systems startup, to co-develop and co-produce Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASV). The agreement builds on the joint U.S.-India Roadmap for Defense Industrial Cooperation.
This partnership aims to enhance undersea domain awareness through manufacturing, system interoperability, ocean testing, and the establishment of a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capacity for the Wave Glider ASV platform. The MoU supports the ASIA aimed at expanding industry partnerships and strengthening production capabilities across the Indo-Pacific region.
“The U.S.-India relationship continues to strengthen, and we see immense potential in deepening our collaboration,” said Salil Gupte, president, Boeing India and South Asia. “This partnership with Sagar Defence Engineering underscores our commitment to co-developing and co-producing critical systems in India, fully aligning with the collaborative vision of both the U.S. and Indian governments outlined in the U.S. – India Joint Leaders Statement last month.”
“The Wave Glider is a key platform for U.S.-India collaboration, strengthening tactical readiness in the Indo-Pacific. Partnering with Sagar Defence advances bilateral defense cooperation and supports the ASIA initiative to expand industry partnerships and production across the region,” said Shane Goodenough, CEO of Liquid Robotics.
“This strategic partnership brings together the best of U.S. and Indian defence capabilities by co-developing advanced technologies like the Wave Glider, strengthening our aim to contribute towards fostering innovation within India’s defence ecosystem. This collaboration reinforces our shared vision of providing solutions for complex maritime challenges to enhance global maritime security.” Capt. Nikunj Parashar, Founder, Sagar Defence Engineering Pvt. Ltd.
As the first such project by a U.S. company in partnership with an Indian startup, this collaboration marks a milestone in U.S.-India defense industrial cooperation, with undersea domain awareness as a key focus. It reinforces India’s potential to be developed as a hub for MRO and sustainment of such platforms, with export potential across the region. Additionally, advancing autonomous underwater capabilities will accelerate ecosystem growth and drive innovation in next-generation defense technologies.
About Boeing in India
Boeing is focused on delivering value to Indian customers with advanced technologies and is committed to creating sustainable value in the Indian aerospace sector – developing local suppliers and shaping academic and research collaborations with Indian institutions. Boeing has strengthened its supply chain with more than 300 local companies in India and a joint venture to manufacture fuselages for Apache helicopters and vertical fin structures for the 737 family of airplanes. Annual sourcing from India stands at over $1.25 billion. Boeing currently employs close to 7,000 people in India, and more than 13,000 people work with its supply chain partners. Boeing’s employee efforts and country-wide engagement serve communities and citizenship programs to inspire change and make an impact on more than 1.5 million direct and indirect beneficiaries. Learn more at www.boeing.co.in.
About Liquid Robotics
Liquid Robotics, a Boeing company, designs and manufactures the Wave Glider®, the most experienced and proven Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV). Powered exclusively by wave and solar energy, the Wave Glider stays on mission 24×7 for several months at a time, providing real-time data and communications for a variety of applications. For more than 15 years, Liquid Robotics has supported science, commercial, and defense customers with tailored solutions to ensure successful long-endurance and persistent ocean monitoring missions in varying sea states. Visit www.liquid-robotics.com to learn more. Liquid Robotics and Wave Glider are registered trademarks of Liquid Robotics, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company.
About Sagar Defence Engineering
Sagar Defence Engineering was established to enable the use of autonomous technology to save costs, time, and most importantly, human lives. We use autonomous technology to deliver efficient solutions as the world observes a transformation in new-age mobility where unmanned autonomous vehicles are essential to bolstering air, terrestrial, and maritime security. We hope to be a symbol of the burgeoning technological might of India, the brilliance of Atmanirbhar Bharat, and the aspirations of a vibrant and energizing new India. Sagar Defence has been analyzing recent technical advancements since 2015, including improved autonomy, electric propulsion, and battery capacity that led to the development of advanced autonomous systems.