Norwegian maritime technology company Kongsberg Maritime has unveiled a new class of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) designed for rapid integration and deployment into so-called hybrid fleets.
"In response to the UK Royal Navy’s development of its hybrid fleet of crewed and uncrewed assets, the USV combines proven commercial ship design with Kongsberg Maritime’s remote and autonomous technologies to deliver resilient and persistent anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability in the High North," Kongsberg said in a statement.
The company said it selected one of its proven Arctic commercial vessel designs to adapt and optimise for the Royal Navy’s ASW requirement.
The USV is designed to operate in the demanding conditions of the High North, providing what Kongsberg said is "a robust platform for uncrewed military sensing operations."
The USV is designed to be built at pace by commercial shipyards, with military capability integrated by the defence industry. The vessel is equipped with Thales UK’s submarine-hunting sonar and secure military communications systems.
Significant payload capacity and deck space will allow the vessel to accommodate alternative or additional mission systems throughout its operational life.
"Operating from a forward support base inside the Arctic Circle, the USV is designed to provide a persistent sensing capability to augment the existing multi-asset ASW infrastructure in the High North," said Kongsberg.
To support accelerated delivery, Kongsberg is working with UK partner Balaena Maritime, with new ships planned to be delivered from the latter's Birkenhead yard, ready for militarisation and operational deployment by the end of this decade.