The United Kingdom’s Royal Navy has reached milestones in fielding autonomous maritime technologies. In recent trials, engineers from its Mine and Threat Exploitation Group evaluated three platforms’ maneuverability and adaptability to new systems.
MTXG’s Maritime Autonomous Systems Trials Team reached a Degree Three level of autonomy on the uncrewed surface vessel Apollo. In its latest round of testing, the team deployed the Apollo for a preprogrammed mission that included avoiding potential hazards in Weymouth Bay, England. According to Lt. Cdr. Alan Hendry, officer in charge of MASTT, RNMB Apollo proved that it can follow path plans and avoid hazards.
Meanwhile, MTXG’s Yankee Squadron Unit 1 assessed the capabilities of the Seacat autonomous underwater vehicle during a military exercise at the Baltic Sea. Over four weeks, the Seacat demonstrated that it could be reliably launched and recovered numerous times for hydrographic surveying. The mine-hunting AUV is equipped with an echo sounder and camera to provide troops with real-time information on the maritime environment.
X-Ray Squadron, based in the Gulf Region, also helped evaluate the new technology. It tested the Cube containerized uncrewed underwater base in 30-degree Celsius waters in the Middle East. The Cube can charge the autonomous underwater vehicle Remus 300 while at sea for continuous operations.