DCNS tests maritime combat system demonstrator
DCNS has tested a new ship-borne anti-terrorism and anti-piracy combat system demonstrator in Toulon harbour, France.
It’s designed to help accelerate decision making and prevent collateral damage in close-quarter defence situations.
A piracy attack was simulated and the DCNS combat system demonstrator showed how quickly it could be used to deploy asymmetric defences.
Ultra-high-definition, 360-degree cameras are dotted around the vessel to gather video footage of the surrounding area and this is then superimposed on top of augmented reality images to allow operators to pick out which vessels aren’t behaving as they should.
When an operator sees suspicious activity they can use a powerful zoom lens to confirm whether or not the threat is real and a response can be implemented, ranging from simply issuing a sound or light warning signal to a warning shot or final protective fire.
There’s even a camera mounted on the weapon to minimise the chance of collateral damage.
The new combat system is compatible with a large number of ships and can operate autonomously or can be integrated within a Combat Management System (CMS) to benefit from other information provided by the vessel’s other sensors or from sensors on board a UAV, which promises an exciting opportunity for surveillance in the future.
More from Naval Warfare
-
Ukraine war drives ‘minimum deployable capability’ doctrine in uncrewed systems development
Ukraine’s battlefield has rewritten the rules of uncrewed systems development. For Syos Aerospace, real-time operator feedback, lean serial production and a system-of-systems philosophy are central to its operating model.
-
AUKUS advance on UUVs contrasts with Virginia-class compromise
The AUKUS partnership is accelerating uncrewed undersea capability while its submarine arm inches forward, and Australia’s decision to settle for three in-service Virginia-class boats raises questions about industrial risk, dependency and whether Pillar II may deliver meaningful capability long before Pillar I can.
-
Peru partnership may serve as a template for South Korean naval exports into South America
With a growing pipeline of naval modernisation programmes in South America, South Korean companies could be set to expand their presence in the region as recent contract wins highlight growing collaboration.
-
AUKUS plan B? Japan’s submarines stopgap gains traction
Australia’s Collins-class life of type extension has revived debate over whether Canberra needs a contingency plan as risks to every stage of the AUKUS pathway mount. With Japan newly open to exports, the case for a diesel-electric stopgap is gaining traction.
-
Seoul’s SSN programme launch raises questions on fuel, tech and build location
Seoul has unveiled its “Jangbogo-N Project” to develop domestically built, nuclear-propelled attack submarines in close coordination with Washington, marking an escalation of the Republic of Korea’s deterrence posture against Pyongyang’s undersea nuclear capabilities.