Under a contract with the MOD worth £5.5M, the Navy is to receive the Remus 600, an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) which will enhance the mine countermeasures capability of the Fleet.
The vehicle will provide a detailed maritime survey and mine detection and classification capability in the 30m to 200m depth range, although the vehicle can operate down to 600m. It is fitted with a range of sensors and runs on re-chargeable batteries giving it an endurance of over 70 hours.
Nick Johnson, leader of the Defence Equipment and Support Underwater Defence Systems and Countermeasures Integrated Project Team, said:
"Remus is an advanced new capability that will not only reduce the risk to ships and divers during mine countermeasures operations, but will help to undertake a wide range of other important tasks, from supporting marine search and salvage operations to defending our ports and harbours against potential terrorist attacks."
Remus 600 will be rapidly deployable by air, sea or land to provide the Navy with the ability to undertake mine reconnaissance ahead of the arrival of conventional forces and can be deployed from any vessel equipped with a one tonne crane or davit and is intended to enter service in 2009.
The MOD has ordered two of the new systems which have been developed at the world famous Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (discoverers of the Titanic) from Hydroid LLC, of Pocasset, Massachusetts, USA.
Lieutenant Commander Paul Guiver, the team’s requirements manager, said:
“The MCM Recce UUV is a fine example of utilising low technological risk commercial off-the-shelf equipment and is the fourth and final strand of the MCM Mid-Term Coherency Programme (MTCP).
"The systems will be embarked on dedicated MCM platforms or deployed and integrated throughout the general Fleet.
"They will enable the Navy to demonstrate its effectiveness as an MCM asset while gaining operational experience to de-risk the RN Future Mine Countermeasures Capability programme."
"The MCM Recce UUV is a fine example of utilising low technological risk commercial off-the-shelf equipment."
Lieutenant Commander Paul Guiver
Babcock Design and Technology of Weymouth, Dorset will be providing integrated logistical support to Hydroid. This new capability will be operated and managed by the Fleet Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Unit, based at HM Naval Base, Portsmouth.
In addition to its primary role of mine reconnaissance, the system is capable of undertaking hydrographic surveys and environmental assessments.
It can also be used in a general search and salvage role in support of humanitarian operations involving both military and civilian authorities.
It will not replace existing systems but is intended to be another ‘tool in the toolbag’ and force-multiplier allowing other assets to conduct operations independently.