Thales’ Apollo Uncrewed Surface Vessel passes milestone in autonomous mine hunting trials.

The British Ministry of Defence has confirmed that trials of Thales' Apollo uncrewed surface vessel took place in December 2022. The Royal Navy Maritime Autonomous System Trials Team (MASTT), with support from Thales, conducted the trials off Weymouth Bay. Representatives from the UK Naval Authority and Technology Group (NATG) and the Mine Hunting Capability team from the Ministry of Defence were present to observe and approve the trials.
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RNMB Apollo is one of the two pre-production Uncrewed Surface Vessels delivered to the Royal Navy and Marine nationale (French Navy) in December 2021 as part of the joint UK-France Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) programme which will bring autonomous mine hunting capability to the two respective Fleets (Picture source: Thales/Ewan Lebourdais)

The objective of the program is to develop cutting-edge maritime mine warfare capabilities, which will position the UK and France as leaders in naval autonomous systems technology. By employing uncrewed mine clearance platforms, the Royal Navy (RN) can effectively maintain open shipping lanes without exposing sailors or crewed platforms to potential threats.

Equipped with a combination of advanced sensors, including radar, LIDAR, and electro-optical and infrared cameras, the vessel's position was continuously communicated to the command and control center through a secure communications network. This connection allowed the command and control software to integrate the sensor data into a coherent tactical picture using Thales MCube mission management software. It also facilitated the detection, tracking, and appropriate response, including remotely controlled avoidance maneuvers, towards other vessels.

In operational service, these vessels will have the capability to operate in national waters or be rapidly transported by air to mine-infested areas or to secure sea lines of communication. They will demonstrate high levels of reliability, autonomy, and cybersecurity. These vessels can be deployed and operated from both ship and shore bases, providing flexible and efficient capabilities.

RNMB Apollo is one of the two pre-production Uncrewed Surface Vessels delivered to the Royal Navy and the Marine nationale (French Navy) in December 2021 as part of the joint UK-France Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) program, which aims to introduce autonomous mine hunting capability to both fleets.

With the contract now in its production phase, Thales is actively collaborating with the customers to deliver full operating capability to both nations by 2024.

Alex Cresswell, Chief Executive and Chairman of Thales UK, commented, "These trials represent a significant milestone in certifying autonomous maritime systems for operational use. They are a crucial step towards gaining trust in uncrewed vessels within a complex program. The trial serves as a critical remote operation milestone towards achieving autonomous mine hunting."

Gwendoline Blandin-Roger, Managing Director of Underwater Systems at Thales, expressed pride in supporting the Royal Navy and the Marine nationale in mine warfare, surface ship, and underwater operations. She emphasized Thales' commitment to bringing these game-changing autonomous systems into operational service.