US Navy: first patrolling of the automated Sea Hunter, independent global deployment in 2020

(Franco Iacch)
11/01/16

http://www.difesaonline.it/mondo-militare/us-navy-primo-pattugliamento-automatizzato-il-sea-hunter-dislocamento-indipendente

The first automated patrolling of the Sea Hunter will start next January in view of the international COLREGS certification, Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. For the Pentagon, there are no doubts: The Sea Hunter is the dawn of a new era in naval tactics and in the field of automation. It 'the first automated platform designed to detect submarines at sea in the ocean, to sail the sea.

The ACTUV program (Anti-Submarine Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel) reflects the concept of the independent global displacement. The Sea Hunter can sail at 27 knots remaining at sea for 70/90 days (depends only on fuel). The human operator's presence is intended only as a remote supervisory control. This results in a zeroing of losses and in the ability to extend the missions in the sea (the latter are limited both by the personal stress boarded the feature in addition to the natural wear of the systems).

The Sea Hunter held a series of missions, from reconnaissance to surveillance of enemy submarines. The trimaran will use on-board sensors to monitor traffic in the depths of the seas due to its long and short-range radar. The relatively small size to 140 tons and 40 meters in length, give the ship's maneuverability and robustness. The cost of maintenance varies from 15 to 20 thousand US dollars a day. A cruiser will require 700 thousand per day. The Pentagon expects to have at sea, within the next five years, an automated fleet able to accomplish various tasks.

The main software of the drone was developed strategies on human users who played the Dangerous Water simulation, developed by Sonalysts Combat Simulations and released in 2005. The tactics used by players have been examined by the company to improve and develop the main software. Before you even write the software, DARPA asked the approach and method of gamers who have ventured into the combat simulation.

ACTUV The program was founded with the aim to monitor the diesel-powered attack submarines silent that continue to proliferate in the globe thanks to their low cost of access. Iran should have in service 17, 53. According to the Chinese Navy, the final cost of each ACTUV shall be twenty million dollars. The sea trials will conclude in September 2017. In 2020 it is expected the first independent global displacement.

(Photo: DARPA)

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