LONDON — Elbit Systems UK completed a series of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) trials with the United Kingdon Ministry of Defence (MOD), the company said in a release. The trials were delivered via Dstl’s (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory) Progeny Framework, exploring how autonomous systems could support future ASW operations.
Elbit Systems UK was one of a shortlist of U.K. companies selected to take part in this second phase of the project — a series of live at sea trials which took place off U.K. coast with the Ministry of Defence in late October 2019.
Elbit Systems UK used its Seagull unmanned surface vehicle (USV) for these trials, with the USA’s L3 Harris providing the sonar. Seagull, Elbit System’s multi-mission, multi-sensor USV demonstrated its autonomous ASW utility to the U.K. MoD, across the entire trials period, utilizing its ‘ASW Toolbox’ solution throughout to show how the abilities of this system to offer a force multiplier for ASW operations.
“Elbit Systems has world leading technology to offer to the maritime and littoral environment,” said Martin Fausset, chief executive officer of Elbit Systems UK. The Seagull USV has once again, demonstrated its superior capabilities underlining Elbit Systems UK’s competitive position to providing innovative and cost-effective solutions to the U.K. Armed Forces. We are proud of our ongoing work with the Royal Navy as we work together to maintain its operational advantage.”
The Seagull USV has multimission capability, being able to perform ASW, mine countermeasures (MCM), electronic warfare (EW), maritime security (MS), hydrography and other missions using the same vessels, mission control system and data links.
Meanwhile its ASW capability provides the UK navy with a tactical advantage by deterring and threatening enemy submarines using an available asset with significantly lower risk. Seagull’s MCM capability facilitates end-to-end mine hunting operations including detection, classification, localization, identification and neutralization of bottom, moored and drifting sea mines.
The Seagull is deployable with capability to operate from port or mothership, with two vessels able to be controlled from the same mission control system and both manned and unmanned modes of operation, the latter featuring a high level of autonomy.
Seagull offers endurance of four days and mission sea-keeping of up to Sea State 5.
Seagull has previously participated in bi-national MCM trials in the North Sea off the Belgian Coast organized by the Directorate General of Material Resources of the Belgian Defence Ministry and has been used in a series of demonstrations alongside several global navies, including being deployed in 2018 by NATO forces in a joint ASW exercise alongside the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan and the Spanish Navy’s Santa Maria-class frigate “Victoria.”
The Progeny Maritime Research Framework was launched by Dstl to create a community of science and technology suppliers to support current and future maritime research projects. The Progeny Maritime Research Framework is worth up to 200 million pounds over 8 years and it is anticipated that requirements will be delivered by industry, including small and medium sized enterprises and academia.
The Progeny Maritime Research Framework is supporting science and technology research for current in-service capability and the next generation of maritime technology. Examples of research areas it is addressing include unmanned systems, future submarine platforms and underwater communications and networking.
