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Thales UK revealed at the AUVSI 2013 exhibition in Washington, DC, details of an innovative military/commercial technology demonstrator for unmanned mine countermeasures (MCM) operations.
Thales served as systems integrator on the project, combining the Halcyon unmanned surface vehicle (USV) designed by Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) with a Saab Seaeye remotely operated vehicle (ROV), aiming to prove the potential to develop a multi-shot mine-disposal system using a commercial off-the-shelf ROV.
Halcyon is an optionally manned 11.5 m craft capable of 30 kt, based on the ASV C-Sweep USV, which is modified to meet Thales' requirements. This includes an ASV-designed launch and recovery system (LARS) to deploy the Seaeye for inspection of mine-like objects identified by towed sonar or other offboard sensors, and a Thales command and control system. The concept also includes a Saab HYDRA multi-shot mine neutralisation system.
The complete system will be publicly revealed at London's DSEi defence exhibition in September 2013, followed by demonstration trials for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) in October.
The development leverages Thales' work on ASV, which has been under way since 2011, looking to produce a USV to meet the MoD's MCM, Hydrography, and Patrol Capability (MHPC) programme requirements. The MHPC programme envisions a USV able to conduct mine-sweeping operations and integrate with the UK Royal Navy's Hunt-class MCM vessels.
However, no further progress is expected on MHPC until after the UK's next Strategic Defence and Security Review, scheduled for 2015.
Via Patrick H.
