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.
Tiger ROVs selected to clear nuclear waste
Two Saab Seaeye Tiger remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) have been selected by Sellafield to clear nuclear waste in the radioactive ponds at the Sellafield’s nuclear site, the company announced on 3 October.
The Tigers will work continuously for six months at a time between scheduled maintenance periods.
The Tigers have a thruster working life of 10,000 hours. The ROVs will clean up and empty the legacy storage ponds by collecting and sorting nuclear material, including radioactive fuel bars. The nuclear waste can be buried in about 30cms of sludge, which is radioactive and hazardous.
Weighing 15kg, each fuel bar is nearly one metre long, and is gripped in the middle by the Tiger’s under-slung manipulator, monitored and identified, then transferred to a skip which can be removed from the pond for safer storage in a more modern facility.
Phil Toomey, technical manager at Sellafield, said: ‘Reliability is the key for the health of operators. They must wash down the Tigers during maintenance checks as exposure to radiation for operators is carefully limited, so unplanned downtime will quickly exhaust their safe working period in any one year.’
Sellafield aims to have removed all bulk fuel and sludge from its legacy ponds by 2022.
You may also like
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments]()
-
![US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS]()
US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS
The service has been using a Directed Requirement (DR) approach to speed up the deployment of a Medium Range Reconnaissance capability.
-
![AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024]()
AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024
AeroVironment’s portfolio will grow thanks to the eVTOL P550 aimed at battalion-level tactical forces.
-
![Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards]()
Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards
The Royal Australian Air Force is advancing its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities across three key programmes as it works with the likes of Boeing and Northrop Grumman to reshape Australia’s defence strategy.
-
![FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official]()
FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official
Prototypes from Griffon Aerospace and Textron Systems recently passed through MOSA conformance trials and flight tests.
-
![Pentagon adds Replicator 2 to budget request with focus on C-sUAS capabilities]()
Pentagon adds Replicator 2 to budget request with focus on C-sUAS capabilities
Funds for the second phase of this effort will be allocated in the US Department of Defense (DoD) FY2026 budget request.
