The Royal Navy announced that a fully autonomous mine countermeasure will undergo testing with sailors. It is described as one of the most sophisticated towed sonars in the world.
Although the Royal Navy may no longer be the world’s largest or most powerful maritime force, it is still noted for its renewed focus on innovation.
The UK’s senior service has led the development of laser-directed energy weapons (LDEW) and could field its DragonFire ship-based anti-drone LDEW system by 2027. This week, the Royal Navy announced that the fully autonomous mine countermeasure vessel has been delivered and will undergo testing with sailors.
Developed nearly a decade ago as part of the Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) contract awarded to Thales by the Joint Armament Cooperation Organization (OCCAr), the twelve-meter-long uncrewed surface vessel (USV) can detect mines without putting sailors in harm’s way.
The “Royal Navy Motor Boat Ariadne” is the first of four autonomous minehunting systems that will eventually be delivered. Personnel will now undergo training on the platform before it officially enters service. The program aims to increase the “operational tempo” while eliminating the need for “sailors to enter mine danger areas,” the Royal Navy explained.
Unmanned Mine Hunter
The Royal Navy added that the fully autonomous minehunter can be launched from a mother ship or deployed in a harbor “to scour the seabed for mines.” It employs the Thales Towed Synthetic Aperture Multiviews systems, described as “one of the most sophisticated towed sonars in the world.”
The technology utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) in target recognition, allowing the platform to process massive amounts of data more quickly to classify and neutralize the mines. As noted, the platform can accomplish the mission while ensuring sailors can maintain a safe distance.
“The Mine and Threat Exploitation Group will work with our industry and defense partners to operationalize this cutting-edge technology to achieve operational advantage,” explained Commander Daniel Herridge, the Royal Navy’s commanding officer of the Mine and Threat Exploitation Group.
“Ariadne, with her associated payloads, will enhance our ability to detect, classify, and neutralize underwater threats with greater efficiency and reduced risks to our sailors,” added Herridge.
“This achievement is a testament to the strength of our collaboration with the Marine Nationale. With both nations receiving MMCM systems, we will drive forward the next generation of mine countermeasures operations.”
Last year, the Royal Navy conducted tests of the prototype RNMB Apollo at Firth in Clyde, which paved the way for the autonomous vessels to be phased into operation. At the same time, conventional crewed mine hunters will be retired over the next five to six years.
“This is a significant first delivery for the Royal Navy and is a proud moment for all those involved in bringing this transformative capability into service,” said Rear Admiral Steve McCarthy, director of the maritime environment at the Defense Equipment & Support (DE&S) joint defense organization within the MoD.
“This project contributes to the growth and prosperity of our nation and will strengthen UK security through enhanced maritime operations.”
First Degree 3 Autonomous Mine Hunter
The Royal Navy also stated that Royal Navy Motor Boat Ariadne is the “first Degree 3 autonomous vessel” to be delivered to the service, meaning it can be remotely controlled without any sailors on board. This could further pave the way to Degree 4, which would be fully autonomous because it could make decisions and conduct actions without human intervention.
“We are extremely proud to deliver the world’s first end-to-end autonomous mine hunting system to the Royal Navy,” states Phil Siveter, Thales’s CEO.
“With the introduction of AI and advanced sensor technology, this innovation marks a new era in naval defense and underlines our unwavering commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions that enhance the capabilities of our armed forces. The Royal Navy will now have a powerful tool to protect its national interests and maintain safety at sea.”
The additional three vessels in the MMCM program are set to be delivered over the next year. Thales UK was awarded a £184 million ($239 million) contract, which the company noted will support 200 jobs throughout the UK. It is part of a larger €430 million ($469 million) joint UK-French investment in the endeavor.
In January, the French Maritime Nationale also received its first mine warfare uncrewed surface vessel (USV), which was also developed under the MMCM program. Initial operation capability (IOC) is now scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He hascontributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
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