Page 89 - Australian Defence Magazine May 2022

MAY 2022 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
SEAPOWER MINEHUNTING 89
signed for four complete systems for the Royal Navy and four for the French Navy.
Each system comprises a portable operations centre, four AUVs, one USV, one towed synthetic aperture modular (TSAM) sonar which is automatically deployed and recovered from a 12-metre USV, and a Saab multi-shot mine neutralisa- tion system (MuMNS) to identify and neutralise sea mines.
This unique multi-shot system is fitted to a reusable teth- ered remotely operated vehicle (ROV) launched from an unmanned surface vehicle.
MuMNS consists of a magazine accommodating three dis- ruptor launchers, a manipulator arm and nail gun to attach a 1kg shaped charge disruptor to the target, and an antenna buoy that rises to the surface after a pre-set delay of up to 28 days to receive the detonation command via a coded radio signal. Having moved away, the ROV is then directed on to other mines, or returns to its support vessel for reloading.
This MMCM “system of systems” is controlled from a host ship or shore-based operations centre via high data- rate communications links to the USV. The USV’s own fi- bre-optic link to the ROV meets the Royal Navy’s wish to retain man-in-the-loop control of the disposal procedure.
“The whole system is modular and its open architec- ture makes it scalable, so new autonomous vehicles, sensors and effectors can be integrated as they be-
come available on the market,” Stephen commented. “The MMCM is a mature deployed system, low risk, that can easily be integrated with the Saab 9LV combat man-
agement system on the OPV.”
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
Meanwhile MMCM software from Thales UK and Thales France has already undertaken significant technology trans- fer to Australia where engineers in Sydney were working in an immersive laboratory at Rydalmere to ascertain what was required to adapt the software for Australian conditions.
“Thales is actively investing so that we’re going to be able to offer Navy a truly sovereign capability bespoke to their needs,” Stephen stated.
A likely second Sea 1905 contender is the joint venture agreed in May 2021 between West Australian company Total Marine Technology and ECA Group of France, likely to be based on systems from ECA’s proprietary UMS (Unmanned Maritime Systems) mine countermeasures portfolio.
Both companies are skilled in robotics equipment for harsh maritime environments and have been working for many years with customers in the defence and security domains.
Components from UMS form the basis for the MCM ‘toolbox’ capability being jointly procured for the navies of Belgium and the Netherlands. ■
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