DASA points to autonomous submarine development
The UK’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) has announced a potential £2.5 million ($3.2m) investment for the development of a RN XL autonomous submarine platform.
MSubs, based in Plymouth, has received £1 million ($1.3m) to develop a test submarine which will be used to explore new underwater capabilities for the RN in using UUVs. The company is working on converting its manned S201 into an UUV.
Jeremy Quin, the UK Defence Procurement Minister said: ‘Submersible autonomous vessels have huge potential and this project could be a game-changer for the UK’s underwater capability, taking our submarine service to the next level.’
If the test submarine developed by MSubs is successful, DASA has said that it would provide an additional £1.5m ($1.9m) to carry out further tests on the UUV’s capability.
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