The Royal Navy has taken delivery of its second remotely-controlled mine warfare vessel, named Adventure, as part of the ongoing Maritime Mine Counter Measures programme.
Adventure joins her sister vessel Ariadne, which is already in service, as one of four planned “primary systems” being delivered under the Anglo-French MMCM programme. The boats are designed to carry uncrewed survey and mine warfare payloads, including the SAMDIS towed synthetic aperture sonar, which is used to map the seabed and help operators identify and neutralise underwater threats.
The programme is managed by the international armaments organisation OCCAR and involves collaboration between the Royal Navy, Thales, and Saab, among others. According to the Royal Navy, the system is designed to allow mine clearance in sea states up to State 4, with waves as high as two and a half metres, and supports seabed mapping in complex maritime environments.
Each primary system is paired with a portable operations centre from which mine warfare specialists direct missions remotely.
Commodore Michael Wood, the Senior Responsible Owner for the UK programme, accepted Adventure on behalf of the Royal Navy at Turnchapel in Plymouth. He was quoted as saying the delivery marked “an important step forward – and showed the power of the enterprise – with OCCAR, Royal Navy, the National Armaments Director Group, Thales and Saab working collaboratively and transparently to one purpose, and responding to the urgent need to prepare this world-class capability for any operational deployment.”
The system also incorporates a dedicated Remotely Operated Vehicle for mine identification and neutralisation training at sea, which the Royal Navy says improves mission readiness while keeping personnel out of danger.
Two further primary systems are expected to follow as the programme continues to reshape how the Royal Navy approaches the enduring threat posed by sea mines.
I think the RN needs to bring in its own small boat Design Bureau. They seem to be allowing a wide range of small boats which they need some being mono hulled and some Multi etc; which is it. By now they should have decided on a design standard. Have they? This looks somewhat marginal due to a very low freeboard. 6ft waves aren’t that large but can vary in hazard according to the length of the wave and direction etc.
Are they standardising on propulsive power and equipment? Something to look at.