Create a free starter account, or log in.

Get access to four free articles per month, as well as our Decisive Edge Newsletters and Daily News Bulletin.

Email Address

Password

Forgot your password? Reset by clicking here

Create a Password

[[ req.met ? '✓' : '•' ]] [[ req.text ]]

Re-enter Password

Passwords do not match

First Name

Last Name

Country

Confirm your account

Please enter the four-digit pin below that has been emailed to you.

Didn't receive the pin yet?

This pin expires in 20 minutes.

[[ error ]]

By creating an account, you agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Stay informed with Shephard's award-winning journalism. Unlock unlimited access and in-depth analysis with a corporate or individual subscription.

Explore your options here

AUV A9-M surveys seabed for mines

4th November 2016 - 15:45 GMT | by Shephard News Team

RSS

ECA Group's A9-M autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) has successfully demonstrated its ability to remotely survey the seabed for mines from the Belgian Navy's Pollux coastal patrol vessel (CPV), the company announced on 3 November.

The demonstration was carried out as part of the navy’s evaluation of unmanned maritime systems off the Zeebruge Naval base in mid-September 2016. The navy was looking to compare available unmanned systems to its legacy mine countermeasure equipment, and evaluate capabilities in specific North Sea conditions.

The 2m, 70kg A9-M is designed to be deployed and operated from rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) by two operators, or directly from larger vessels such as CPVs. With an endurance of ten hours, the AUV can operate in strong currents and high tide environments without degradation of its side scan sonar image quality.

During the demo, the AUV carried out a five hour mission, covering a square kilometre area to detect and classify more than one hundred mine-like objects on the seabed. According to ECA the AUV performed successfully, demonstrating its reliable navigation and precision capabilities, high seabed picture data recording quality, and showed that it can be operated from an RHIB and CPV. The system also performed simultaneously with a UUV, showing that it can operate as part of a mixed asset team.

Further trials are planned by the Belgian Navy in the spring of 2017.

Author

Shephard News Team

As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to Premium News and Defence Insight …

Read full bio

More from Uncrewed Vehicles

Jammer resistant drone designs spark search for countermeasures

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has driven another stage of evolution for drones and the counter measures to defend against them.
L3Harris launches Amorphous software for control of uncrewed platforms

The new Amorphous software is a universal controller that would allow a single operator to control a swarm of “thousands” of uncrewed systems, from drones to underwater platforms.
ideaForge unveils new UAVs at Aero India 2025

India UAV supplier ideaForge has launched the Netra 5 and Switch V2 drones at Aero India 2025, boasting of enhanced endurance, AI-driven autonomy and improved operational capabilities.
Shaping the future of defence: What 2025 holds for the global drone market

The UAV market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with innovations in technology and battlefield applications driving demand across military sectors. From the battlefields of Ukraine to NATO exercises and beyond, drones are transforming how wars are fought and supported.
Maris-Tech confirms customers signing up for Jupiter Drones codec and AI-powered system

Launched at AUSA in October, the company’s multi-stream video codec is attempting to bring a new lease of life to drone technology through its AI accelerator.
AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments

Quantum-Systems has been upgrading its UAS family, with new versions of the Vector, Reliant and Twister drones set for release throughout 2025.