The Royal Navy has accepted a trio of unmanned minesweeping vessels that trick sea mines into detonating harmlessly by mimicking a naval vessel.
The Combined Influence Minesweeping (SWEEP) system can detect and detonate modern digital mines capable of targeting military vessels passing overhead.
The system comprises a remotely-controlled uncrewed surface vessel towing three sensor boats, each emitting magnetic, electric, and acoustic signals that mimic the signature of naval ships.
Unlike conventional mine-hunting methods, which first require the detection of mines and then their detonation, SWEEP can perform both tasks simultaneously.
The system can be rapidly deployed from land, sea, and air and is controlled by a remotely-located portable command center, guaranteeing personnel safety.
“The Royal Navy receiving its first fully autonomous minesweeping system is truly transformational,” the Royal Navy’s Jonathan Reed-Beviere said.
“The uncrewed system can replicate a ship’s signature, tricking sea mines into detonating safely,” he added.
“The portable, flexible system is vital to protecting ships from modern mine threats, operated remotely from land or sea, it will keep our sailors out of danger and will restore a minesweeping capability the Royal Navy has lacked since 2005.”
The last remote minesweeping operation by the Royal Navy was conducted off the coast of Iraq in 2003, while traditional minesweeping was performed by the HMS Ledbury in 2005 off the Isle of Wight.
To Help Ensure Freedom of Maneuver
Dorset-based TKMS Atlas UK Ltd (formerly Atlas Elektronik UK) developed and manufactured the system in the UK under a 25-million-pound ($34-million) contract.
SWEEP’s “sense and avoid” capability allows it to work with similar autonomous UK systems, such as the Maritime Mine Counter Measures system and SeaCat Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles.
The system is designed to ensure freedom of maneuver for Royal Navy vessels in international waters amid the growing threat of Russian sea mines.
“These three SWEEP systems will help to ensure Royal Navy personnel can combat the evolving global threat of naval mines more effectively and more safely,” Mine Hunting Capability Team Leader at the UK’s Defence Equipment and Support, Andy Lapsley, added.
“The new technology, which will also help maintain the freedom of manoeuvre for UK ships and submarines when defending the UK at sea, is aligned with the aims of the Strategic Defence Review to increase utilisation of new autonomous equipment to support the Royal Navy to patrol the North Atlantic and beyond.”
