The UK and France have made further investment into the development of autonomous minehunting systems which could eventually replace the in-service Hunt and Sandown class minehunting ships. The £184m investment in the Maritime Mine Counter Measure (MMCM) programme will see further funding go to Thales and L3 Harris work into the development of autonomous systems able to detect and neutralise sea mines.
The UK is looking to autonomous capabilities to replace its crewed Hunt and Sandown-class minehunting ships once they go out of service. The first of the three sets will be delivered in late 2022 where it will undergo operational evaluations before being transitioned into service.
The contract will cover the production of three sets of an autonomous vessel that can be controlled from a mothership, towed sonar to locate possible mines and a mine neutralisation system that is remotely operated and used to disable the mine once it has been located....MORE
