Pulling Guard

The world's oceans are the foundation of the global economy. Unarmed logistics vessels travel vast distances to deliver the goods that power our daily lives.

The security of these sea lanes is paramount, yet they face ever-increasing threats. From piracy and terrorism to sophisticated attacks by uncrewed surface and aerial vehicles, the challenges to maritime security are complex and growing.

Traditionally, the U.S. Navy's warships, such as guided-missile destroyers, have been the primary guarantors of maritime security. However, many commercial vessels and the vast ocean stretch these forces thin. Assigning a high-end escort to each ship is economically unsustainable, which leaves many "soft" targets exposed.

The Pulling Guard program aims to create a new layer of protection for these vital commercial assets.

How to improve survivability of unarmed logistics

Pulling Guard proposes a semi-autonomous, unmanned system towed behind the very vessel it protects. This "guardian on a towline" acts as a dedicated, mobile sentry, capable of detecting and neutralizing threats before they reach the host ship.

While a remote supervisor will retain authority over engagement, Pulling Guard will be autonomous enough for a single person to securely supervise multiple systems over a secure connection.

The program focuses on integrating and marinizing existing sensors and effectors on a vehicle. It emphasizes modularity in software and hardware, supporting rapid, continuous development as threats change. Furthermore, it broadens the total addressable market by enabling tailored variants that meet statutory or regulatory export compliance requirements.

Protection as a service

Our goal is to bring a mature, cost-effective, proven system to commercial use, supported by U.S. Navy operators (contractor-owned, government-operated). This "protection as a service" model offers accessible, scalable security for the maritime industry.

By pioneering this new approach, Pulling Guard is forging a new paradigm in global maritime security to keep the seas safe and open for military and commercial customers. Our approach is central to current global economic issues; therefore, collaboration between military and commercial operators is essential for maximum impact.

Building in cybersecurity

In an age of cyber warfare, cybersecurity is not an afterthought. We’re mandating the use of cyber-resilient approaches, such as formal methods, mathematically rigorous techniques that develop and verify the system's software. This approach will produce machine-checkable evidence of software performance and resilience, ensuring reliable operation in contested electronic environments.