Germany calls for increased European MCM cooperation
European nations must encourage increased cooperation in the procurement and operation of mine-countermeasure (MCM) technology, according to a senior officer in the Federal German Navy.
Speaking to delegates at the Undersea Defence Technology (UDT) conference in London, RAdm Jurgen Mannhardt, deputy commander and director of specialist divisions, described how European navies had the chance to 'procure autonomous operated vehicles, interchangeable between nations and inexpensive'.
Announcing 'numerous challenges' in the MCM arena of operations including how Europe's capability was being reduced, Mannhardt said: 'The Federal German Navy is interested in any cooperation to make MCM faster, arriving on scene more quickly and accomplishing MCM missions more quickly.'
Mannhardt added that the Federal German Navy was adopting a strategy of operating mine-hunting vessels allied with autonomously operated vehicles (AOVs) which could be 'quickly transferred to any vehicle of opportunity', although he conceded such a move was expensive.
In addition, he called for the world's navies to maintain 'protective and defensive' anti-submarine warfare (ASW) skills, describing how more and more nations and organisations were becoming more capable of building military and non-military submarines even though some did not reach the highest levels.
'Small [and] deployed submarines pose threats to expeditionary forces. They are hard to detect and may become more important in the future. Larger ocean-going submarines can operate close to the coast and there is a requirement for sensors for shallow and deep waters,' Mannhardt concluded.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
Tekever unveils new swarm-controlling UAS
Tekever has manufactured the AR3, AR4 and AR5 UAS with all systems sharing common electronics and software architecture, which has enabled the reuse of ground segment elements within the new ARX UAS.
-
Ready for the race: Air separation drone swarms vs. air defence systems
As the dynamics of aerial combat rapidly evolve, Chinese scientists have engineered a sophisticated air separation drone model that can fragment into up to six drones, each capable of executing distinct battlefield roles and challenging the efficacy of current anti-drone defences such as the UK’s Dragonfire laser system.
-
Israel’s MALE UAVs ‘must adapt’ to Iranian-made air defences
Advancements in air defence technologies have begun to reshape aerial combat dynamics in the Middle East, as illustrated by recent events involving the Israeli Air Force and Hezbollah.
-
Hundreds more UAS sent to Ukraine forces with thousands more on the way
Both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war have been using UAS for effective low-cost attacks, as well as impactful web and social media footage. Thousands more have now been committed to Ukrainian forces.
-
AI and software companies selected for US Army Robotic Combat Vehicle subsystems
The US Army has intentions to develop light, medium and heavy variants of the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) as part of the branche’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle family.