IN Brief:
- Sentiq Defence has begun operations as the commercial systems integration brand of Italy's AJB Subsea Srl.
- Its portfolio includes SQ-series uncrewed surface vessels, underwater surveillance sonar, remotely operated vehicles and tactical drones.
- The business plans an assembly, integration and test capability in western Liguria, but has not announced its opening date or investment value.
Sentiq Defence has begun operations as an Italian integrator of autonomous and remotely operated maritime systems, offering equipment packages that combine uncrewed surface vessels, underwater surveillance technology and aerial drones. Based in Bordighera, the business operates as a commercial brand of AJB Subsea Srl and intends to develop an assembly, integration and testing capability in western Liguria as its customer and supplier relationships expand.
The launch establishes a commercial operation intended to bring equipment from international manufacturers together under a single Italian supplier relationship. Its initial portfolio comprises modular surface vessels, sonar systems, remotely operated underwater vehicles and tactical uncrewed aircraft, which can be configured for applications ranging from maritime surveillance to mine countermeasures and the protection of underwater infrastructure. Sentiq has not announced an initial customer contract, an equipment delivery or a completed manufacturing investment.
AJB Subsea, which was established in 2025, previously concentrated on strategic advisory and business development in maritime defence and underwater technology. Sentiq extends those activities towards the integration and supply of complete equipment packages, including training and continuing technical support. The brand remains part of AJB Subsea rather than a separately incorporated defence manufacturer, a distinction confirmed in the parent company’s published legal information.
Its surface offering includes the SQ series of modular uncrewed vessels, with variants designated SQ03 through SQ30. Sentiq identifies hydrographic survey, environmental monitoring, offshore inspection and persistent surveillance as potential applications, alongside naval requirements such as mine countermeasures and anti-submarine warfare. The company has not disclosed independently verified endurance, payload capacity or other performance figures for the individual configurations, nor evidence of completed naval qualification for the advertised mission roles.
Combining different sensors with an uncrewed surface platform requires engineering work at several interfaces. Payloads must remain within the vessel’s available space, mass and electrical capacity, while their communications arrangements need to work with the onboard control and mission systems. A sonar configuration introduces requirements for deploying and retrieving underwater equipment, whereas a surface surveillance installation may prioritise communications and electro-optical sensing. Sentiq intends to undertake this integration work around customer requirements, although it has not identified a completed multi-system demonstration.
Underwater security equipment forms another part of the portfolio. Sentiq offers fixed SQ DDS, portable SQ PDDS and longer-range SQ UDS sonar systems intended to detect underwater intruders around ports, naval facilities and critical infrastructure. Inspection-class remotely operated vehicles are also included, providing a means of examining underwater assets. The launch material does not disclose measured detection ranges, sonar frequencies or the operating conditions under which particular performance claims have been verified.
Fixed underwater surveillance systems must be configured around local acoustic conditions, including water depth, seabed characteristics and background noise from vessels or infrastructure. The placement of a sensor can influence the area it monitors, while false detections and variations in acoustic propagation complicate the interpretation of returns. Portable systems bring additional installation and recovery considerations. Providing several types of equipment through one supplier may help coordinate their integration and support, but it does not remove the need for site-specific testing and acceptance.
The planned Italian operation will address more than equipment selection. Sentiq intends to establish assembly, integration and test capabilities in western Liguria, followed by training and through-life logistical support for domestic and international customers. Its proposed location offers access to established maritime industry around Genoa and La Spezia, as well as suppliers in neighbouring France. No precise facility location, workforce commitment, opening date or capital expenditure has been confirmed.
Antonio J. Belfiore, founder and chief executive, previously served for 25 years in the Italian Navy, specialising in mine warfare before moving into international defence and subsea technology business development. He has identified integration between platforms, sensors and software as a central focus for Sentiq, with the company intending to manage technical configuration and customer support across equipment sourced from different manufacturers.
These arrangements will need to account for the different interfaces, maintenance procedures and export restrictions associated with individual systems. An integrator responsible for a complete customer package must also establish which supplier maintains each component and how changes to hardware or software are assessed after delivery. Sentiq’s launch establishes the proposed commercial structure for providing those services, while its production and technical capabilities remain dependent on the partnerships and facilities it develops.
The company plans to make its first major public appearance at the EURONAVAL exhibition in Paris in November 2026. Its subsequent announcements will establish whether the initial portfolio develops into contracted deliveries and when the proposed Italian integration and testing facility becomes operational. Neither milestone has yet been confirmed.
