Clearing mines is one of the most dangerous tasks of any navy. Minesweepers and minehunters are specially designed for these activities. They are designed to clear the sea lanes of explosive weapons and thus enable safe transport. As the exact location of a mine is usually unknown, efforts are made to keep the boats and crews out of the endangered area.
The Royal Navy has now ordered three systems that can independently destroy mines in a pre-allocated area. They utilise a technology called Combined Influence Sweep. The autonomously travelling towed vehicle tows various payloads that can simulate a variety of magnetic, acoustic and electrical ship signatures. The system is relatively small so that it can be quickly deployed worldwide with larger units or by aircraft. The technology can also be used to detonate modern digital mines, which are almost impossible to locate in difficult waters. The investment costs amount to 25 million pounds. For the Royal Navy, the system is another building block on the way to more autonomous vehicles and aids.
Text: mb; Photo: Royal Navy/Crown Copyright
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