Unmanned Drones - All Types for Military and Naval Use

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ivorthediver
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Unmanned Drones - All Types for Military and Naval Use

Unread post by ivorthediver »

The worlds navy's and military are adopting more and more unmanned vehicles for defence purposes , in the form of Drones , submarine detection vessels , surveillance , and prosecution devices .....all of which are worthy of mention as not only the USA , Russia , China,
Europe , Israel , and many middle eastern parties to a greater or lesser extent are heavily committed to there development
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Re: Unmanned Drones - All Types for Military and Naval Use

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Be interested to hear from anyone who has any further updates on the USN version and indeed our own recently announced submarine detection device , as other than their respectful trial dates no more has been announced as far as I'm aware .

Similarly , the hastily announced deployment of the UAV devices being trialed by us has all gone a tad muted , or perhaps its finding a vessel that it can be utilised on which is proving difficult to obtain :?:
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Re: Unmanned Drones - All Types for Military and Naval Use

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Whilst browsing through Youtube military updates I came across the further development of tilt rotor craft and was surprised to find that in addition to the Osprey there is now the Valor from Bells which is slightly smaller but in competition , AND they are developing a Quadcopter rotor version which they claim is about the size of a C130 and has a greater load capacity , and might end up in many versions in addition to troop movement for the marines but also logistics , inflight refuelling ....and so it goes on .

The video sports a scenario in the pacific regions and the need for these Quadcopter to sustain enforced insertion
should the need arise :roll:

Very interesting set of videos concerning this mood of transport and its need in the military setup .

One of the ANGLES was the cost of the Osprey to allies........ and how the Valor might prove a solution to their needs :idea:
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Re: Unmanned Drones - All Types for Military and Naval Use

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As the Worlds Navies embrace more and more avionics on board it makes one wonder how many of these recent inventions find their way onto our ships .

We have spoken before of the Navy's use of Drones in recent years, and the argument for and against helo's of varying types and designations from Ospreys tilt rotor now challenged by the Bell Valor , and mutterings of the latest development i.e. the Bell / Boeing Quad lift rota , ear marked to replace the Hercules which can carry larger loads than the dear old Hercy bird similar to the Osprey but with double the rotors and vertical lift :o ........

If the later comes to fruition maybe it will augment the RAS duties undertaken by the Merlin who knows .

I am glad I won't be around when the proverbial hits the fan but its a sobering thought for which most of the others seem to be squaring up to given the accelerated commissioning of vessels they are hell bent on , and the Japanese home defence navy procurement along with others who are only to well aware .

The application and zeal to which they gather strength must be based on a strongly perceived threat , and whilst we dont share the front row seat of other members of our commonwealth do , no doubt we will end up pitching in even if we are bankrupt :oops: maybe we could loan them the HMS SEVERN patrol boat ;)

The threat seems to be a stimulus for the tech boys what with the unmanned sub hunters under development / refinement here again...... who will end up in who's bed :?: and where will the attacks occur and on what footing, when we in our blind stiff upper lip fashion..... can't decide on anything...... let alone commit pen to paper............ to build a Navy worthy of our needs

Perhaps we should have a whip round and offer our Secret Squirrel some peanuts to start foraging around and offer some seekwhit opinions on who..what.. when.. and where ;).....lets face it he could probably know more than our Defence Cabinet [ that wouldn't be to much of a problem for our Dear Harry eh lads ]

Just the bare facts Harry .........say ......who or which member of the EU will be in charge of the English Channel :twisted:
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ivorthediver
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Re: Unmanned Drones - All Types for Military and Naval Use

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Well its been eerily quite for a little while recently , surely someone has developed and marketed some new wonder weapon that will out do everything else , or are we still worried about the recent UAV's UEW's USV's still working whilst the our cousins over the pond decide what to do with their redundant LCS... and CV's now to be mothballed..... have they budgeted for new ammunition for their new Destroyers yet that could level an enemy ship at 100+ miles over the horizon .......and all this whilst China struts her stuff and Kim has a visit to his coiffure ;)

Sorry Harry , but there seems to be a time vacuum , now instead of some nation claiming that they will rule our seas next year........ they all seem to be either adjusting their respective budgets or playing down their alleged combatants claims for world supremacy ;)

Any new weapons emerging from the depths that you have caught wind off 8-)
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Little h
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Re: Unmanned Drones - All Types for Military and Naval Use

Unread post by Little h »

Just ventured back into this thread Ivor and noticed you have a few unanswered posts.

As you intimate there is a great amount of 'stuff' going on and I have kinda gone on hold mode, awaiting some positivity to emerge with regard to all the remote/unmanned sea-going vessels currently being trialled.

I did note however that an unmanned surface vessel - US Navy Ship "Sea Hunter" Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW), Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) - had navigated across the pacific San Diego - Hawaii - San Diego just recently, see:-

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US Navy’s Anti-Submarine Drone Ship Sailed Autonomously From San Diego to Hawaii and Back

The Sea Hunter became the first ship to successfully autonomously navigate from San Diego to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and back.

By Franz-Stefan Gady
February 06, 2019

The first prototype of an autonomous sub-hunting surface ship, the Office of Naval Research (ONR)’s Medium Displacement Unmanned Surface Vessel (MDUSV), christened Sea Hunter, became the first ship to successfully autonomously navigate from San Diego to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and back without a single crew member onboard, defense contractor Leidos announced in a January 31 press release.

During the round trip of more than 8,300 kilometers, personnel from an escort ship boarded the Sea Hunter periodically to check electrical and propulsion systems. It is unclear whether the submarine-hunting catamaran-style drone ship had to undergo any repairs while at sea. It is also unclear how long it took the autonomous ship to complete the round trip across the Pacific Ocean. The Sea Hunter reportedly arrived in Hawaii at the end of October 2018.

“The Sea Hunter program is leading the world in unmanned, fully autonomous naval ship design and production,” said Gerry Fasano, Leidos Defense Group President. Leidos is coordinating the MDUSV project for the U.S. Navy. “The recent long-range mission is the first of its kind and demonstrates to the U.S. Navy that autonomy technology is ready to move from the developmental and experimental stages to advanced mission testing.”

Source; The Diplomat


US Navy Sea Hunter following_a_christening_ceremony_in_Portland,_Ore._(25702146834).jpg



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also today:-


NavyLookout on Twitter
‏ @NavyLookout

.@ThalesUK has been conducting trials as part of MMCM (Maritime Mine Counter Measures) - a joint UK-French programme to develop an autonomous mine hunting capability.

D0lmM47WkAA06Fp.jpg

...... and so it goes on.
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Little h
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Re: Unmanned Drones - All Types for Military and Naval Use

Unread post by Little h »

From Save The Royal Navy

September 10, 2018
The future of Royal Navy mine hunting

The 13 Royal Navy mine countermeasures vessels (MCMV) that remain active are ageing ships but a series of ongoing incremental upgrades will ensure they are able to remain in service into the early 2030s. Here we examine some of the upgrades and a take an overview of the complex plans for the RN’s future mine hunting capability (and attempt to navigate the confusing set of associated acronyms!).

Mines are a cost-effective way an adversary can deny access to ports, anchorages, and offshore structures. Mines are an attractive asymmetric weapon, particularly for weaker naval powers, they can be laid relatively easily and the technology continues to develop. A few well-placed mines can have a potentially strategic impact, keeping a fleet in port, strangling commercial shipping or preventing an amphibious assault. A new generation of smart, autonomous mines will to complicate the hunter’s job further. Neutralising mines is slow and painstaking work that requires practice, preparation and the best tools available. The RN is still a world leader in this specialism and is working hard to keep at the forefront of developments. At any one time, a significant part of the RN’s mine warfare strength is devoted to the Persian Gulf, ready to counter the threat of Iranian-laid mines.
Doing the same with less

Despite the undiminishing threat from mines and underwater improvised explosive devices (UWIEDs), financial pressures have seen the MCMV force halved since 2000. Just 6 of the original 13 Hunt class are left in service after HMS Quorn and Atherstone were prematurely decommissioned in 2017. Under the 2015 SDSR plans, another Hunt is scheduled to go before 2025, leaving a total of just 12 MCMV. The Single Role Mine hunters (SRMH) of the Sandown class are down to 7 left in service of the original 12 built for the RN. Despite the cuts to MCMVs, personnel numbers in the Mine Warfare and Diving branches are now actually rising slightly for the first time since WWII.

The remaining Hunt class vessels which date from the 1980s have all recently completed a major upgrade package. Starting with HMS Chiddingfold in 2012, the main work consisted of fitting new gearboxes and propellers and an upgrade to the hydraulic bow thruster system. Two new Caterpillar C32 ACERT engines replaced the old Deltics and have already proven very much more reliable in service. Great care has been taken to minimise the magnetic and acoustic signature of the new commercial off-the-shelf engines, while the chilled water plants have been improved and mess decks refurbished. The Hunt class are also being fitted with an improved new degaussing system that neutralises their modest magnetic signature.

Continues here - an excellent article well worth a full read through.


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Also:-


NavyLookout on Twitter
‏ @NavyLookout

Naval Attachés representing 33 nations attended briefing on Maritime Autonomy that @ThalesUK is developing at Turnchapel Wharf in Plymouth yesterday

https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/united-k ... y-progress

D0llX85WsAMBJ9m.jpg large.jpg
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Little h
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ivorthediver
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Re: Unmanned Drones - All Types for Military and Naval Use

Unread post by ivorthediver »

Are you telepathic Harry [ moves back to check and see if Harry has planted any bugs or cameras under his desk ;) ]

That is exactly what I was awaiting information on so BZ and thank you for the update .

I should have learnt by now that you don't miss a trick and recall my posting details of these on the old site , but what with everything going on thought that it had died a death .

Well done and thanks Harry .
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ivorthediver
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Re: Unmanned Drones - All Types for Military and Naval Use

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I'm totally with you Harry on the plethora of acronyms currently in use and escalating each day , thou it must be said that its birthplace of America seems the worst .

Two more seem to be in fashion at present what with the Penguin "C" fixed wing UAV , and the Navy's C Enduro data gathering UDG vessel used by the MHC , although I must admit to being confused by the latest which although I have probably mis read..... it gatherers sea bed data by mapping sensitive locations and then rescans them to detect anomalies ? , and is also in use at Faslane ? well I'm sure all will become public domain in time what with the cyber breach inroads that seem to be a daily occurrence now . ;)
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Re: Unmanned Drones - All Types for Military and Naval Use

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Drones to aid Ireland’s war on illegal fishing and pollution
Nick Bramhill
@nickbramhill
Jul 12, 2018


The use of drones by Ireland's Naval Service is set to be stepped up in a bid to clamp down on illegal fishing and pollution offenses at sea.

Remotely operated pilot air systems have been identified by naval chiefs as essential for obtaining intelligence and keeping a check on Ireland's vast marine territory.

Sources also said naval operations tasked with gathering video evidence of illegal fishing and pollution offenses at sea as ones which would benefit from advanced drone technology.

The growing support for expanding the usage of drones on maritime missions follows the success of a pilot trial in the Mediterranean last year which saw the LE Eithne become the first naval vessel to use drone technology during its deployment on humanitarian rescue operations.

The missions, part of the EU-led Operation Sophia, trialed the Phantom 4 PRO, drones which can stay airborne for 35 minutes and which have a maximum range of eight kilometers.

But the Naval Service said it hopes to utilize even more advanced technology in the future, which has been specially designed for their missions.

In an interview with Signal magazine, Lieutenant Commander Phil Watson, who was in charge of operating the drones aboard LE Eithne last year, said, "Although we are all Naval Service professionals, the fact is that every time you put a boat in the water with a crew there is a degree of inherent risk involved.

"On Operation Sophia, where this technology was piloted, our crews frequently encounter very poor vessels, with very distressed people on board. This can lead to tense situations.

"For instance, if we need to return to the ship to get more equipment, those in the vessel can think we're abandoning them and panic. It's vital to keep the situation as calm as possible, so with a drone, we can fly it down close to the vessel and do a head count of how many people we are dealing with. It gives us access to more information and enables us to prioritize our response."

And looking ahead to its future use in the navy, he identified naval operations "such as observing potential drugs or contraband smuggling, pollution offenses and illegal fishing" as those which would most benefit from the usage of drones.

Watson added, "When you consider the scale of the territory which the Naval Service has to patrol, which is 10 times greater than Ireland's land mass in size, it makes sense to utilize whatever technology we can in order to gain an operational edge in terms of our outputs and the intelligence and information we can gather.

"We are constantly aware of constraints relating to cost, but more importantly we are constantly seeking ways to enhance our outputs as an organization. I think that this is a good example of doing both and I look forward to seeing it develop more within the service and indeed within the Defence Forces as a whole."

Source; IrishCentral.


The entire article is copied.

Note the passage I have bolded that reads:- The growing support for expanding the usage of drones on maritime missions follows the success of a pilot trial in the Mediterranean last year which saw the LE Eithne become the first naval vessel to use drone technology during its deployment on humanitarian rescue operation.

So much for the fact that the RN can and have 3D printed UAV's in other theatres of operation .... why weren't we the first?
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