DCNS tests maritime combat system demonstrator
DCNS has tested a new ship-borne anti-terrorism and anti-piracy combat system demonstrator in Toulon harbour, France.
It's designed to help accelerate decision making and prevent collateral damage in close-quarter defence situations.
A piracy attack was simulated and the DCNS combat system demonstrator showed how quickly it could be used to deploy asymmetric defences.
Ultra-high-definition, 360-degree cameras are dotted around the vessel to gather video footage of the surrounding area and this is then superimposed on top of augmented reality images to allow operators to pick out which vessels aren't behaving as they should.
When an operator sees suspicious activity they can use a powerful zoom lens to confirm whether or not the threat is real and a response can be implemented, ranging from simply issuing a sound or light warning signal to a warning shot or final protective fire.
There's even a camera mounted on the weapon to minimise the chance of collateral damage.
The new combat system is compatible with a large number of ships and can operate autonomously or can be integrated within a Combat Management System (CMS) to benefit from other information provided by the vessel’s other sensors or from sensors on board a UAV, which promises an exciting opportunity for surveillance in the future.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Future of the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke programme remains unclear]()
Future of the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke programme remains unclear
The US Navy does not have a precise date for the award of the procurement contract for the third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer despite having the funds to advance with the programme in FY2025.
-
![US Navy may look to foreign suppliers to accelerate shipbuilding programmes]()
US Navy may look to foreign suppliers to accelerate shipbuilding programmes
The US Navy (USN) is currently reassessing its acquisition efforts and seeking ways to reduce the multiple delays across the shipbuilding initiatives.
-
![Australia commissions HMAS Arafura three-and-a-half years behind schedule]()
Australia commissions HMAS Arafura three-and-a-half years behind schedule
The Royal Australian Navy has finally commissioned the first Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel – more than three years behind schedule – highlighting the programme’s delays, design compromises and ongoing industrial restructuring.
-
![Italy orders two ships as work begins on others along with deliveries and updates]()
Italy orders two ships as work begins on others along with deliveries and updates
The Italian Navy is being refreshed with two new ships ordered, while in the past six months steel was cut for a new frigate, an enhanced frigate was delivered and Horizon-class frigates passed a design review.
