25 Juli 2021

RSN's USV Passed Test as MCM Role

25 Juli 2021

RSN operates two types of MCM USVs - one with the EMD system, and the other with sonar equipment (photo : DSTA)

Singapore navy's unmanned surface vessels pass test to detect and neutralise sea mines

SINGAPORE - The Republic of Singapore Navy's unmanned surface vessels (USVs) have proven their ability to neutralise sea mines, and are now mission-ready.

Using such platforms is expected to yield a significant reduction in human labour, as well as time taken to detect, and dispose of, sea mines.

The two USVs - with an expendable mine disposal (EMD) system controlled remotely from shore - successfully neutralised an underwater target on Jan 29 in waters off the Southern Islands.

Ms Siow Chengxin, a senior engineer from the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), told reporters on July 16 that the firing exercise was one of the final steps to verify that the USVs could perform well.

"It's a significant milestone validating our engineering effort on executing control of the K-STER C vehicle... wirelessly and safely," she said.

K-STER C refers to a lightweight EMD vehicle from French manufacturer ECA Group. It is loaded in a canister that is mounted on an USV.

The validation means that the USVs used for mine countermeasure (MCM) operations can now identify and neutralise underwater threats, a world-first capability.

The Republic of Singapore Navy's unmanned surface vessel used for mine countermeasure operations (photo : Sing Mindef)

Colonel Wong Chng Tong, commander of the 6th Flotilla, which leads the development of unmanned capabilities for surface and underwater craft, said the use of unmanned systems is the next frontier for maritime operations.

The deployment "enables navies to conduct operations more effectively with less manpower and at lower cost", he added in an e-mail interview.

It also reduces servicemen's exposure to threats, such as underwater explosives or improvised explosive devices, he noted.

Col Wong said sea mines laid by aggressors were the primary underwater threat that impeded safe transit in the past. The dangers have evolved to include improvised explosive devices that can be easily deployed by terrorists.

The Singapore navy began experimenting with the deployment of USVs more than a decade ago. The USVs with the EMD system were introduced in 2018, with the ability to identify but not neutralise mines.

The EMD system on manned MCM vessels needs a crew of 33, but the USV needs only two - one operator to control the vessel, and the other the EMD system console.

The manned Bedok-class MCM vessels are still in service, after completing a mid-life upgrade in 2014.

The navy operates two types of MCM USVs - one with the EMD system, and the other with sonar equipment, called the towed synthetic aperture sonar system.

K-STER C Expendable Mine Disposal Vehicle (EMD) (photo : ECA)

A third USV variant is used for coastal patrols.

These USVs can be operated remotely, either on shore or potentially on another ship.

Typically for mine countermeasure missions, a USV with the sonar system is deployed to conduct underwater scans.

Once the threat is located, another USV with the mine disposal system is activated. The EMD system is lowered into the water to close in on the threat for identification and neutralisation.

Ms Siow, 36, who is from DSTA's Naval Systems Programme Centre, said the operation of the K-STER C is almost instantaneous.

With just the press of a button, an operator can launch it from its canister, she added. On a manned MCM vessel, it takes four people about an hour to deploy the K-STER C into the water - from a storage area to an open deck, and then by a crane.

The project was not without its challenges, including those from the Covid-19 pandemic. It took four months to prepare for the live firing day, said Ms Siow, who has been with DSTA for 13 years.

"I still can recall the moment when we successfully fired off the second shot. We were all overjoyed, and felt our efforts had paid off and were worth it," she added.

25 komentar:

  1. Disini ngapain repot bikin USV, sdm melimpah ruah...πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

    Kalo di SG, udah wilayahnya mentok sana-sini, cari tentara baru susahnya minta ampoon...πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

    BalasHapus
    Balasan
    1. Program KB di singapur ketat banget tho?

      Hapus
    2. "Piye le bakal sukses.......wong ijih akeh seng gelem di poligami (colek mbah Gono) 😣😣😣"

      https://youtu.be/2i7inbg3tNI

      Hapus
    3. Ora ah.. ☝πŸ˜πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

      Hapus
  2. Min upload drone baru TNI-AL Seaeagle(Se-01) yg baru diterima itu drone amphibi plus bisa gotong senjata. Gw dapat berita di INDOMILITER.COM





    Pengumuman di yt IMI channel yg liris 17 april lalu. Aku liat di minit 1.45 di body DEFTEC HMAV malaysia yg tengah diuji rintangan ada bendera merah plus gambar bulan bintang warna putih ini benderanya πŸ‡ΉπŸ‡·, bendera siapa itu apakah bender selangor atw PUTERRRajaya? Tolong pencerahannya teman2.

    BalasHapus
  3. Balasan
    1. Lagi lagi kadrun iblis nyonyor congor nya

      Hapus
    2. Video Pengujian Kapal OPV-90m sebelum dibuat.

      https://www.instagram.com/p/CRvuhimtHdT/?utm_medium=copy_link

      Hapus
  4. "Tahniah ya puuuur .......yg diam-diam ngeluncurkan opv buatan damen (iri gue liat kapal cantik nan comel gini) 😱😱😱"

    #sah cecah air πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

    https://youtu.be/dYzRpURpuXU

    BalasHapus
  5. Selamat medali PERAK utk angkat besi 61Kg atas nama Eko Yuli Irawan..πŸ‹‍♂️πŸ‹πŸ’ͺπŸ‘

    BalasHapus
  6. Singapura lagi, Singapura lagi..... Terus berita dari geng koyak kapan dong guys?

    BalasHapus
  7. 2 medali..perak dan perunggu dari angkat besi..mantab...

    GO..go..πŸ‡²πŸ‡¨πŸ‡²πŸ‡¨πŸ‡²πŸ‡¨πŸ‡²πŸ‡¨πŸ‡²πŸ‡¨πŸ‡²πŸ‡¨πŸ‡²πŸ‡¨πŸ‡²πŸ‡¨πŸ‡²πŸ‡¨πŸ‡²πŸ‡¨πŸ‡²πŸ‡¨πŸ‡²πŸ‡¨πŸ‡²πŸ‡¨πŸ‡²πŸ‡¨πŸ‡²πŸ‡¨

    BalasHapus
  8. Buat negerinya om ben, USV gini sbnernya lbh penting drpd kapal selam gaes , tinggal cantelin sonar celup beres haha!😷😷😷

    Jarak batam center ke sing dibawah 30 km, dgn laut tak terlaluw dalem. Klo pipa aja bs nyebrang pulau, harusnya pake jaring nguyen “CHUKUP” yak buat nyerok jebakan betmen haha!😝😝😝

    BalasHapus