According to information published by the UK MoD on April 12, 2022, a £32-million contract to provide cutting-edge autonomous mine-hunting systems to the Royal Navy has been awarded to Atlas Elektronik (UK) in Dorset.
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Artist rendering showing future Medium Autonomous Underwater Vessel on ARCIMS USV (Picture source: UK MoD)
Supporting other autonomous assets, including the joint FR/UK Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) and Combined Influence Sweep (SWEEP) systems, the Medium Autonomous Underwater Vessel (MAUVs) will become part of a “system of systems” that will enable the Royal Navy to search, detect and neutralize mines from a remote distance while on operations worldwide.
The contract was negotiated by the Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) team at Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the procurement arm of the MOD. The first MAUV equipment delivery is expected in Spring 2023.
Outlined in the Integrated Review, investment into cutting-edge new autonomous systems demonstrates how the Royal Navy and UK Defence are modernizing to address threats across the globe.
The ARCIMS USV is an 11m platform with large open deck space and a 4-tonne payload capacity. It has been specifically designed for unmanned military applications with a shock-resistant hull and a low platform underwater signature. The high tow performance across a wide speed range assists minesweeping and towed sonar operations. The cathedral hull and twin jet propulsion provide a manoeuvrable yet stable platform with a top speed of over 40 knots.
Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) is a trading entity and joint-defence organisation within the UK Ministry of Defence. It began operating on 2 April 2007, following the merger of the MoD's Defence Procurement Agency and the Defence Logistics Organisation, under the Chief Executive Officer of Defence Equipment and Support.
Artist rendering of future Medium Autonomous Underwater Vessel (Picture source: UK MoD)
