French Navy acquires minehunting USV prototype

The French Navy has taken delivery of the lead example of unmanned surface vehicle (USV) under the Future Mine Warfare System (Systeme de lutte anti-mines futur; SLAMF) program.

The USV is part of a complete system that also includes a towed sonar and an operation centre.

The SLAMF system was developed by a partnership of defence technology firm Thales and European intergovernmental organisation OCCAR. The partnership is also supplying similar unmanned mine countermeasures systems to the UK Royal Navy under a separate program.

The first SLAM-F USV will undergo further testing. The navy expects the system to achieve initial operational capability by 2024.