U.S. Navy test makes major breakthrough in using unmanned surface vessels for ocean mine hunting
LONDON – The U.S. Navy has achieved a major milestone in its mine-hunting efforts to combat autonomously one of the most persistent threats it faces, the service’s deputy head of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations’ mine warfare office said Monday. Defense News reports. Continue reading original article
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
11 Sept. 2019 -- The Navy demonstrated what’s known as single-sortie mine hunting, which sends out an unmanned boat to sweep for mines with a sonar system, detect a mine-like object, classify it and then deploy another system that destroys the mine.
It’s a significant achievement in the yearslong effort to get the man out of the minefield by deploying unmanned vehicles to perform a job traditionally performed by manned minesweepers and trained divers.
Beyond the safety benefits, it also quickens the process. The test opens up the possibility of having a small cadre of human operators who can oversee whole packs of unmanned surface vessels as they sweep minefields on their own.
John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics
