The Royal Navy has reported significant progress in the domain of minehunting through the use of autonomous systems.
The advancements come after a year of dedicated efforts by the Mission System Team 3 (MST3) of the Mine and Threat Exploitation Group (MTXG), which has been conducting operations and trials in the Clyde area to further the development of these systems.
The utilisation of autonomous technology has been part of a broader initiative to improve minehunting operations. The efficiency and success of MST3 have been acknowledged through the Naval Capability Award at the Surface Flotilla Awards.
Lieutenant Alex Gibby, Group Engineering Officer for MTXG, commented on the past year’s achievements: “Throughout 2023, Mission System Team 3 (MST3) has been delivering operational output, providing a clear picture of the seabed within the Clyde. We have also been conducting trials and developing the use of autonomous equipment in support of the overarching Mine Hunting Capability project and future Mine Counter Measures (MCM) in the Royal Navy.”
The previous year’s operations also included the utilization of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) equipped with sensors from the Royal Navy’s Fleet Hydrographic and Meteorology Unit. The ROVs were successful in visually identifying multiple contacts at the bottom of the Clyde, which has been instrumental in showcasing the operational advantages of integrating hydrometeorological support with mine warfare.
Looking forward, MST3 has a robust schedule for 2024, which includes a series of trials aimed at comparing and analysing the effectiveness of various autonomous technologies.
I really hope we get both the Type 32 program off the ground and purchase the four RFA vessels to give us the ability to deploy these drones where they are needed.
For all the talk of the Houthis anti ship missiles they would probably have been far more of a threat just dropping cheap sea mines and all those massive US fleets stationed in the region would have been almost useless against the threat.
Don’t give them ideas! Other than the targetting fiction, that the Houthis are only aiming for Israeli ships (ha ha), I think your point is on the money.
That comment aged well Jon.
27.01.24 @ 10.33 Zulu : Houthis attack British-linked tanker Marlin Luanda in Gulf of Aden
A tanker with links to the UK was on fire for several hours in the Gulf of Aden after being hit by a missile fired by the Houthis.
The Israeli thing was never true, just a convenient fiction they tell the Arab world. It was the mine/missile thing I was agreeing with Jim about.
Hello Jim, a very interesting post on this over on Sky News. Now think of using the Carriers in a war with China and the range of the F-35B.
Sean Bell: RAF jets flying 3,000 miles for Houthi strikes as flagship aircraft carriers remain in UK – here’s why
The UK’s aircraft carriers have immense potential but have not been resourced effectively – it’s like having a fire brigade that’s available only part of the year.
‘Missed opportunity’ to show potential
When the US and UK forces attacked the Houthis the two navy carriers were moored up at Portsmouth.
Why? Aircraft carriers do not operate autonomously.
They routinely deploy with two frigates and two destroyers to provide protection from the air, a submarine, and Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) support ships to replenish fuel and dry stores.
However, the RFA Fort Victoria is the only dry store vessel in service and has limited availability due to a staffing crisis and serviceability.
Its replacements are not due to enter service for several years.
In short, although the UK carrier strike has immense potential, it is not a 24/7 capability and has not been resourced effectively.
The irony is that the UK CS has never deployed a combat mission from its decks since it was commissioned in 2017.
Yet the first occasion when it might have demonstrated its potential [against the Houthis], it was not available.
This conundrum is not lost on the Ministry of Defence.
indeed, as recently as February 2023, politicians have called for the second of the carriers – HMS Prince of Wales – to be either decommissioned and put in the reserve fleet or to be scrapped or sold.
But even if the UK CS capability had been available, would it have been used?
The Houthis are apparently becoming increasingly effective at targeting merchant and military shipping – bear witness to the excellent performance of HMS Diamond in providing protection to shipping in the region.
Would the UK have risked deploying the carrier and all its support vessels into such a dangerous part of the world?
Although such a deployment would have reduced the distance for the fighters to reach their target, the RAF has the resources and capability to launch such missions from a distance, and at significantly reduced risk.
For low-tempo, precision strikes, the option to launch RAF assets from a main operating base in Cyprus carries significant benefits.
Having flown fighters from the decks of an aircraft carrier, I understand well the enormous potential of carrier-based aviation to have global reach.
However, in these uncertain times, the UK needs assets available at short notice, to deliver decisive effect, and provide swift and comprehensive options to our political masters.
Having a carrier strike capability that is available “some of the time” is just not cost-effective.
F35B’s operated over Syria as part of the CSG21 deployment.
It’s not the carriers that are the problem – they’re ready to go. What we can’t do is sustain them. The RFA are in such a bad shape that nothing capable of handling dry stores or ammunition is available to accompany them. The carriers can’t effectively deploy until RFA Fort Victoria is back in the fleet fully manned, qualified, and ready to go. They’re just about OK for tanking, as the RFA currently has 3 active tankers. Even this will soon temporarily be reduced to 2 as RFA Tideforce will have a planned maintenance period and RFA Tiderace being laid up for lack of crew.
All very true unfortunately JT.
Regards these new autonomous systems. (Aka Drones) Belgium and Holland decided long ago that such systems will require a new type of mothership and so developed the City-class mine countermeasures vessel of which they have ordered 6 each, the other month France (which is co-developing its own autonomous mine clearing system with the Uk , joined that club and ordered 6 of their own. So on that note does anybody know what the RN is going to use as its own Mothership.
Google
Belgian & Dutch Navies Future MCM Motherships
and go to the YT video for a breakdown on what these new motherships look like and can do,
RFA Stirling caste and potentially three other similar vessels will perform the role. Type 32 is suppose to perform the role in a contested environment.
The T32 is a very poor choice for this. Better to use the T26 mission bay or the flat deck of a River Class.
I say this in the basis that most people believe the T32 to be an extension of the T31 programme, which is unfunded and cannot be crewed.
T32 is described as “A Platform for Autonomous Vehicles” and that is all anyone knows about them… Using T26 might give additional options but deffo not better… T26 is a Sub Hunter primarily, not a mine Hunter.
Yes you are correct the Uk has purchased Stirling castle and the Wishlist of 3 others (when the defence secretary pulls his finger out and decides to purchase them. Which on current form is simply a exercise of kicking that can down the street for somebody else to pick up)
Two much smaller countries with even smaller commitments have designed, built and procured 6 each of dedicated motherships designed specifically for the operation of Mine drone ships. In fact, so impressed was France with what the two low countries have come up with, it has decided to purchase the same ship for its own use. (Very rare to see France doing so) In typical British Government proclamation we have all been regaled to look how They are spending money on themMilitary, when it is very clear to see, it is too little, and too late.
Yes, the Stirling castle is a welcome addition, but so tight is the Government, at this moment in time the total fleet numbers one. As mentioned, the 2 much smaller low countries have 6 on order each.
Even tiny Denmarks new patrol vessel shows that Copenhagen is been much more proactive than the Uk.
I think the four RFA vessels will happen because if they don’t we won’t have anything left to base in Bahrain and MCM is the Uk most important contribution to the 5th fleet.
Personally I think such commercial vessels will be superior to small specialist vehicle given their size cost and flexibility.
Any small warship will need to be protected in a contested environment so better just ti make it a cheaper civilian vessel.
Also as we move up the value chain supporting the US with our own large deck carriers it’s better smaller NATO navies move up and can help support tasks from us like MCM.
This way countries like Denmark and Belgium can make meaningful contributions without having to go to the vast expense of procuring air warfare destroyers or carriers.
Have trials been conducted in warmer waters ?
well I did spot a couple of blokes with remote controls at Poole Harbour a few weeks back. 🤔
Can’t have millionaires beachfront littered with empty cans and camping gaz bottles beneath them whilst swimming destroys the Monaco look .I’m glad there is a future for MCM in UK waters (Slight Sarcasm there )
Ha…. Sandbanks Resident’s do get a bit funny when the “Commoners” invade each summer….. it’s bad enough that they have to share the Ferry to get to Studland Naturist Beach !!!!
I’m sure that any Oligarchs living there have amazing telescopes on their balcony
😂
Yep. Harrier along with the support containers where out here during the summer months trundling around and going out to play in the dark blue crinkly stuff on Cardigan Bay.
The Gulf and the red sea bottleneck are ideal places too conduct operations with this kit I doubt it won’t be long before those pesky Houthies lay mines in the transit corridors curtesy of Iran lots of Grey Funnel ships there but no MCMVs
Hunt’s x 13, River’s X 12 and Sandown’s X 12….. all nearly gone now and we have a handful these 10 Ton AV’s plus a Big Blue Harbour Queen…. but at least the Clyde is clear…..🙄
Hunts and Sandowns are not very useful against modern mines. Plastic hulls a waste of time and they are too small to effectively use the Drones.
Oh Ok then….🙄
Served on Hunts from 88 91 out the Gulf The Hunts showed their worth clearing Mines of various types .Not one Hunt was damaged by Mines during OP Granby Fbglass hulls worked the Yanks had their Avenger class and the Dutch ,Belgium, had their tripartite class long days and nights on station sweeping or hunting (paps) but worth it 👌
I share your concern. It’s the need for other scarce assets to deliver them to theatre that’s always concerned me. Someone told me once an Atlas would be used. Great, fast to deploy, true, as opposed to weeks. But assumes one of those scarce 22 Atlas is available and of course it now is removed from another tasking at that point as they cannot be in two places at once.
While having already taken on the Hercs missions too as some imbecile decided the UKSF, one of our trump cards, could go without!
Without the 3 extra mother’s planned then we seem limited. And if a mine takes out a mother? Which the RFA might not be able to crew?
Mate…. Where to start ? Atlas, Is an Amazing Aircraft, We should have so many more, yes they are noisy but they are so capable…. Chinooks are noisy too, in fact you can feel them way before you hear them, Atlas just sound so loud all the time…. Hercs seemed to have some sort of Noise Cloak in comparison.. Where we are at this time is a Disgrace, It’s decades of Cut’s and political -uckwittery … and now even the Americans are worried enough to get involved in the criticism openly…… We as a Country need to get a Grip…. We need to do it yesterday.
Its sad to see the lack of forward thinking of sectors of UK defence. Nobody is in control for long enough. The defence chiefs only get 3 years. This should be extended to 5 years in order to comprehend their briefs and make them accountable for decisions and actions. 3 years is a joke. Year 1 understand the brief and move various people into new roles or fire others. Year 2 actually do something useful and tour allies. Year 3 consider replacements and change plans realising you took decisions in years 1 and 2 too hastily.
I agree mate. I have no one to vote for, apart from spoiling my ballot. I still maintain we have plenty of pluses others lack, just not the numbers, and there is where the issue is.
Need numbers. So would you accept a cheaper less capable asset to increase the mass?
To be honest, I would accept cheaper less capable assets if they could be quickly upgraded… If you think about T26, it’s a pretty impressive platform but if we only had the 8, it wouldn’t be any where near enough, so having the 5 T31’s helps keep the mass….. hopefully, the time has come for common-sense to prevail and to add to both orders…. I would also like to see T32 being built in other yards other than in Scotland …..T45 Style. It’s not impossible to do this especially with the added bonus of having Appledore available again.
Atlas numbers really should be increased, It’s criminal to let go of the SF capability…. Who to vote for ? It’s a bad choice either way but I’d deffo put an X in the box if someone stood up and put there head above the Trenches and realised where the World is at the moment.
The USAF has the Air Force Research Laboratory to own the big ticket strategic priorities and industry relations. I hope RAF has an equivalent but don’t know what that would be?
Interesting to see the discussion about National Service and a citizen army in the press as the solution to the ongoing cuts to recruiting and retention in the armed forces.
It seems that scaring civies enough to write to their MP for increased defense spending is the intention.
A bit more subtle than the usual recently retired General / Admiral speaks his mind about cuts story. Proven not effective so time for a different approach…
Nice to hear miracles with new technology! They’ve changed maths too, 15 really does go into 3!
We at one point had 37 Mine Hunters…. not so long ago… Hunt’s, River’s and Sandown’s…… We are soon to be left with a Castle and a hand full of 10t boats…. Quite how “The Math” works here I just don’t know…. Neither do I know what Sea States these 10t boats can work in, or how they can be defended/protected….in areas of hostility….. Lets just ponder the current Red Sea issues, The H’s are currently using Drones and Missiles yet apparently no mines…. How would the Castle mothership cope whilst tending to her brood of tiny boats. what’s to stop these boats being attacked or even captured…. do we rely on a T45 or T23 to protect them and the Castle as well as all the Commercial shipping…. at least the Sandown.s have Guns and Humans. Maybe these new systems are just for peacetime ? ….