L3 ASV has announced the successful delivery of a long-endurance autonomous vessel known as the C-Enduro to the Royal Navy.
According to the company, the C-Enduro will be used for military data gathering trials by the Mine countermeasures and Hydrographic Capability (MHC) programme as the Navy seeks to exploit autonomous technology.
“We are proud to support the Royal Navy in their plans to explore the uses of marine autonomy as they continue to invest in new and exciting technology,” said Vince Dobbin, Sales and Marketing Director for L3 ASV.
“This vessel is an evolution of our existing C-Enduro product range and provides the unique capability to collect a variety of data during any one mission over extended periods.”
The 4.8-metre autonomous vessel is equipped with 10 sensors combining scientific and hydrographic survey equipment. The vessel operates using L3 ASV’s proprietary control system, ASView, and is fitted with L3 ASV’s autonomy package.
“The different ways in which the C-Enduro can be operated will allow the Navy to test and develop the ability of an autonomous Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) to effectively gather important hydrographic data and potentially form part of a future capability to be delivered by the MHC programme,” said Alex du Pre, MHC Team Lead at Defence Equipment and Support.
The company say that this project marks the fourth delivery of a C-Enduro vessel, and previous successful missions include an 11-day over-the-horizon marine science mission north of Scotland for the National Oceanography Centre.
Here is a good description of it
C-Enduro Length 4.75m Beam 2.22m Height 3.43m Draft 0.52m keel up Weight 910kg lightship Propulsion 2 x DC brushless motors Speed Up to 6.5 knots Endurance 30+ days depending on power configuration, latitude and time of year Control ASView for direct, semi-autonomous or autonomous control Communications Radio/satellite Solar panel system 10 high efficiency panels generating a peak electrical power of 1100W Diesel generator system Electric start diesel generator providing a peak charging power of 4.0kW. Can be run continuously for higher speed and payload missions Wind turbine system Lightweight three blade system generating a peak output power of 500W Sensor options ASV 360 VIR camera, Keel mounted sensors, CTD lowed by winch, meteorological sensors, ADCP, MBES, side-scan sonar, PAM, acoustic modem, ASW (towed array or dipping), electronic warfare.
We are getting plenty of new gear l
I would hope so for the 170 or 180 billion? that’s being spent on Britains new military equipment in the next decade?
but not ships to operate them from.
Britains Independent Navy. Portsmouth, Clyde, Devonport. 😉
the issues of mine warfare are an oft forgotten part of a nations military capability’s as long as the u.k (royal navy) are at the forefront in this area, the better the overall picture will be.
Del-boy, looking for Freddie-the-Frogs gold?
Actually this is a demonstrator for the T31 frigate. They left off the 7.62 mm main gun.