In Shephard’s latest Technology Report, Gerrard Cowan explores the potential of the newest naval UAS when combined with advanced payloads and specially designed or adapted host vessels. One area of interest is the mine countermeasure (MCM) mission set. Integrating UAVs into a multi-domain sensor and effector network offers various benefits, including the use of technologies like LIDAR and the potential for autonomous platforms to neutralize sea mines from the air.
Daniel Scourzic, MCM and deepwater product line director at Exail, highlighted the capabilities of UAS in detecting drifting mines or those below the surface. These UAVs can operate in shallow waters where other uncrewed systems may not be suitable. Scourzic emphasized the importance of future developments in new sensors and data fusion from various sources to fully realize the potential of UAS in mine countermeasures.
The report also delves into the use of ships as carriers for aerial and other uncrewed systems. Industry is addressing challenges related to UAV integration, command and control, and all-weather operations on these ships. Neil Hunter, global head of sales at Schiebel, discussed the concept of motherships housing a range of uncrewed assets, such as UAVs, USVs, and UUVs. He highlighted the benefits of VTOL aircraft like the Camcopter S-100 with its minimal footprint and versatile deployment options.
From an operational standpoint, Hunter explained how incorporating UAVs alongside conventional assets can be beneficial. The use of a small maintenance team helps keep overall crewing requirements low, while adherence to standards like STANAGs enables interoperability when needed. This approach allows for flexibility and efficiency in deploying various uncrewed systems for naval missions.