Mine hunting robots enter service

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

The Royal Navy's new unmanned underwater robots have entered service following successful trials at the end of 2009.

The Mine Countermeasures Reconnaissance Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (known as 'Recce') can hunt sea mines remotely down to 200 metres and is now fully integrated into service with the Royal Navy's Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Unit.

The new, fully autonomous Recce system can scan the sea bed for mines for over 20 hours at a time, using an advanced system of sensors to pinpoint their exact location. This data is fed back to the onboard operators for analysis, and the high resolution imagery gives operators a sharper, clearer picture of the sea bed than they have previously had access to, enhancing their ability to identify the mines.

The Royal Navy describes the Recce system as a 'step change' in capability for the Hunt class Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Vessels, but the system can also be deployed from any ship or even a jetty with a suitable davit.

Defence Equipment and Support's Underwater Systems Programme Manager, Phil Jenkin, said: "The system builds on the success of the REMUS technology of smaller, shallow water vehicles, which the Navy has used over the last few years.

"The new vehicle is not intended to replace the existing systems but extend the Navy's remote mine hunting capability, boasting improved sonar technology, allowing it to cover larger areas of water and to dive deeper."

The system is also capable of conducting remote assessment of the marine environment such as mapping the ocean floor and measuring ocean currents.

Lieutenant Commander Paul Guiver, of the Underwater Warfare Systems Capability Development Group, said: "It is a fine example of using low technological risk, commercial off-the-shelf equipment and will provide the operational experience to the user that will help to de-risk future MCM capability programmes.

"REMUS technology is already used by a dozen navies worldwide, however the Royal Navy was the first to formally accept unmanned, underwater vehicle systems into service.

"The delivery of Recce and initial operating capability could not have been achieved without the considerable efforts of Hydroid Inc working closely with the Underwater Systems team. This marks a very important milestone in the development of our MCM and remote environmental assessment capability."

Lieutenant Commander Kev Giles, the Royal Navy's Fleet Mine Warfare Capability Manager, said: "It is a leap forward from the smaller vehicles… which have a shorter range, fewer sensors, and dive to a maximum 30-metre depth. This is why the Royal Navy is very enthusiastic about this. It gives us a look into the future."

Two systems, each consisting of two 3.9-metre long, torpedo-shaped vehicles, were bought by Defence Equipment and Support in a £5m contract placed with Hydroid Inc in 2007.