US Navy foresees an uncrewed future for its surface and underwater fleet
The service has been conducting various procurement and development efforts to integrate unmanned surface and underwater vehicles into its inventory.
Fugro Survey (Middle East) Limited (FSME) has recently ordered another GAPS, IXSEA's pre-calibrated USBL system, because of its unique high performance in extremely shallow waters.
The first GAPS USBL was mobilized in the spring of 2008 for several construction jobs on behalf of the EPC contractor J. Ray McDermott Middle East in Qatar. A significant number of mattresses and sleepers were laid successfully between Ras Laffan and various new platforms in North Field. The environment was noisy with a water depth often less than 20m.
Following this success, FSME is now expanding its pool of USBL in ordering a second GAPS unit for the Middle East.
"GAPS presents a far better robustness to multipath and noise thanks to the 3D configuration of its head, its wideband modulation and the implantation of a powerful algorithm," explained Jean-Marc Binois, IXSEA's Area Sales Manager based in Dubai.
Mike Dravitzki (FSME General Manager) commented: "We were pleased to confirm our order for a second GAPS system following the successful introduction of the first GAPS System into the Arabian Gulf region.
This second GAPS unit will be used to accurately position the Shell Pearl GTL pipelines as they are laid by J. Ray McDermott in Qatar later this year."
The service has been conducting various procurement and development efforts to integrate unmanned surface and underwater vehicles into its inventory.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.