The Royal Navy’s autonomous Motor Boat Harrier, which is designed to search for and detect underwater threats, has arrived in the Gulf region.
The deployment marks an essential milestone in the UK’s commitment to the Middle East and towards autonomous mine-hunting operations.
Harrier, say the Royal Navy here, is part of the ten-year programme to replace the Royal Navy’s existing fleet of mine countermeasure vessels, and her time in the region will lay the foundation for future autonomous equipment.
During her operations, the 11-metre boat will work with RFA Cardigan Bay to conduct a series of demonstrations and trials to prove her ability to operate in the harsh and demanding weather conditions of the Gulf.
Harrier can operate both autonomously and remotely, using a pre-programmed mission or from a ship or remote control center on the shore. She tows a side-scan sonar behind her to look for mines on the seabed, alerting units ashore or at sea of their whereabouts. In the future, she will work with remotely operated underwater vehicles and a mine sweeping system.
These tests are critical for evaluating the performance of the Atlas remote-controlled mine sweeper boat in hot climates, having already demonstrated its ability in UK waters. Harrier will integrate with Royal Navy personnel and units in the region, including mine countermeasure battle staff, the UK’s Naval Support Facility in Bahrain, and countries that work with the UK to protect shipping and the freedom of navigation.
The Royal Navy believes the success of Harrier will be a stepping-stone for complementary autonomous equipment available shortly.
Persian gulf
There is no Persia unfortunately.
Really?
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Are you really going to start this again?
Persian Gulf if you live on the right hand side.
Arabian Gulf if you live on the left hand side.
The Gulf if you dont really care or dont want to hack anyone off.
👎
Trialling surely in the title, not trailing?
Trailing a side-scan sonar 🙂
‘centre’
I wonder when the new mothership will turn up in the Gulf.
A quite interesting scenario, RN presumably has a high degree of confidence new systems will effectively perform mission, sufficient to begin dismantling a known, world-class capability. Hopefully there is a smooth, uninterrupted transition, but if a technical issue develops, causing a significant delay, what is the recovery plan? RN has already decommissioned and sold several Hunt and Sandown class vessels; perhaps a more conservative management approach to retain capability until new systems are thoroughly tested, would be appropriate in this instance? 🤔
Hi FormerUSAF
To be fair to the RN this is not the first time the RN have deployed remotely controlled MCM craft. DERA (fore runner to QinetiQ) knocked up some remotely controlled boats capable of towing sweeps, etc. which were deployed out to the Gulf after the Second Gulf War.
I saw the craft on a visit to the establishment. They were stacked up in a corner of a harbour side hangar “just in case they were needed again”… so the RN have experience of actually using remotely controlled craft operationally in this role.
Cheers CR
CR,
Thanks for the additional info. Past experience has yielded an attitude of caution. Best wishes to the RN in this endeavor. 🤞🤞
It was a system using remote control Combat Support boats towing massive permanent magnets and pipe noise makers. It was for use in the shallows of the Shatt al-Arab waterway and around the Al Faw peninsular. I was working on shore side MCMV Support EM2 in Ports when the requirement came to the fore. The whole thing was thrown together from scratch in a few weeks and deployed.
The Sandowns will be gone by 2025. The Hunts will be kept on for another 5 years after that to provide some transition.
That said they will struggle with “Hot Weather ” at this time of year. Last week we had fog and rain. Its around 15 Degs when I leave for work and rises to low 20s in the afternoon. It will heat up from April onwards.
👍🤞
I think GB has seen this operating in the area!
Yep seen it out and about and a few other interesting drone vessels and not just MCMV ones. The current Fav is a hoofing big Devil Ray Cat with twin outboard diesel engines that will do 100knts and 6 G turns and carry a substantial load. I had a natter with the team trialling it…and I really really want one because its absolutely beautiful as a boat just on its own. Similar to the ones shown HERE seen on the video pootling around in the waters near my work place. Whats interesting is it can carry and launch its own… Read more »