UK launches unmanned Pacific 24 boat
The UK RN has launched its first crewless boat for general duties.
Trials with the new craft begin this month, followed by integration trials later in the year with a frontline RN warship’s combat and navigation systems.
Results of these trials should determine whether the UK invests in a fleet of such craft or just a few for specific missions.
The unmanned Pacific 24 boat was developed by BAE Systems in partnership with NavyX – the specialist wing of the RN that brings together industry, the civil service and academia to boost innovation in autonomous technologies.
‘More than £3 million [$3.75 million] is being invested in the crewless Pacific 24 boat – and other autonomous small craft technology,’ BAE Systems announced in a 24 June statement.
The crewless boats could operate individually or in clusters at speeds of up to 38kt.
While the hull and propulsion system remain the same as crewed Pacific 24 boats, their control system and sensors have been modified to allow autonomous movement once a generic task has been assigned by a human.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
Royal Navy uncrewed aircraft trial marks European first
UK flight test sees largest unmanned aircraft take off from a Royal Navy aircraft carrier.
-
Dubai Airshow 2023: Chinese AR-2000 large ship-borne UAV makes debut
CATIC have displayed its new AR-2000 drone at Dubai Airshow 2023, emphasising ship-based capabilities with PLA already purchasing.
-
Australian Triton takes to the skies
Australia has ordered four Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton UAS which can operate as an uncrewed maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) alongside the country’s in-service Boeing P-8A MPA fleet.
-
Elistair unveils automated tethered observation UAS
The Khronos tethered UAS has been designed to be simple to use and has drawn on Elistair’s experience with hundreds of existing customers.
-
Saildrone to produce USVs in Australia from 2024
The use of long-duration Uncrewed Surface Vehicles for maritime surveillance and monitoring has become part of the fleet inventory as navies try to reduce the level of effort required to gather intelligence on areas of interest.
-
Ocius expands Bluebottle USV capabilities
A growing number of uncrewed systems have been on show at Sydney's Indo-Pacific Maritime exhibition with a select few currently being trialled to see if they can enhance the Royal Australian Navy's surveillance levels.