Northrop Grumman Demonstrates High Area Clearance Rate with Unmanned Mine Hunting System at Unmanned Warrior

摘要

Unmanned operations reduce risk and logistical overhead while enhancing endurance and autonomy. With regard to mine hunting missions, USVs compliment UUVs. UUV performance is limited in high speed and high current conditions and UUVs require lengthy PMA timelines. However, they provide excellent data collection capabilities for covert and deep water scenarios.rnUSVs can provide multi-mission support to amphibious operations and use of the AQS-24B installed on a USV enables rapid mine clearance operations. An AQS-24B-based system enables mine hunting at up to 18 knots and mine ID at up to 10 knots. Furthermore, integration of the AQS-24B and hydrographic capabilities enables simultaneous mine hunting and IPOE.rnThese operations are feasible and cost-effective today due to the ability to rapidly integrate existing technologies. USV operations drive the ability to get extremely close to targets from as far away as possible. Moving forward, interoperability and collaboration between coalition navies must drive efforts to achieve undersea dominance.