World's Largest Anti-Submarine Robot Ship Joins US Navy

[jpak]

https://thediplomat.com/2018/02/worlds-largest-anti-submarine-robot-ship-joins-us-navy/

The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)– an organization responsible for developing emerging technologies for the U.S. military’s use— has handed over the first prototype of an autonomous sub-hunting surface ship, christened Sea Hunter, to the Office of Naval Research (ONR) on January 30 for further testing.

This marks the end of DARPA’s so-called Anti-Submarine Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) program. “ONR will continue developing the revolutionary prototype vehicle—the first of what could ultimately become an entirely new class of ocean-going vessel able to traverse thousands of kilometers over open seas for months at a time, without a single crew member aboard—as the Medium Displacement Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MDUSV),” according to a January 30 DARPA press release.

Capable of reaching top speeds of up 27 knots, the 132-feet (40 meters) long and 140-ton heavy unmanned autonomous MDSUV trimaran prototype is designed to operate autonomously for 60 to 90 days straight, surveil large stretches of ocean territory and — should an enemy submarine be detected — guide U.S. Navy warships or aircraft to the subs location to destroy it (the Sea Hunter does not carry any weapons systems).

The robot ship reportedly uses a fifth-generation medium-frequency hull-mounted sonar system to conduct active and passive sonar searches. DARPA has also been working on developing non-conventional sensor technologies to enable the correct identification of surface ships and other objects while at sea.

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[MineralMan]

1. Just One Question:

Where's the trolling motor? It's got that cute fishing platform outrigger, but I don't see a trolling motor.

[TheBlackAdder]

15. Is that the Naval equivalent of being 'promoted' to the Army's Arctic Command?

[magicarpet]

2. It is powered by a huge/thick rubber band...

...... just wind-er up and off she goes.

[MineralMan]

3. Well, that's better than baking soda pellets and vinegar, I guess.

One other thing. There's a bridge on that robot ship. Looks like someone will be on it.

[Brother Buzz]

4. I heard the swabbies just rubbed soap on the stern

[MineralMan]

16. LOL!

[underpants]

5. Liars! I see 7 people on it

[rickford66]

6. How does it defend itself ?

[zipplewrath]

7. It doesn't

It identifies subs and then transmits that information to manned ships and subs to follow up. Their targets may not even know they've been detected.

[rickford66]

9. So, it's a sitting duck.

[zipplewrath]

10. A moving buoy

More like a moving buoy. We already deploy sonar buoys. This is a more expensive and moving version. (It is probably also a bit harder to detect as well, although not invisible so to speak).

[lagomorph777]

12. More like a decoy. Anything with active sonar becomes a target.

But if it gets blown up, nobody dies.

Also, even if it gets blown up, somebody who can attack the sub now knows where the sub is.

[Submariner]

11. I expect it would have to be escorted by one or more subs

and a Destroyer Escort type of surface vessel to provide protection. Otherwise, they would be just sitting duck targets.

When this amped up sonar boat detects the enemy, our subs will track and pursue.

[rickford66]

13. Then it tells the enemy where our subs are.

Isn't it accepted that no one knows where our subs are? I figure this will be used with surface ships or aircraft, not our subs.

[Submariner]

14. Our fast attack subs will sit quiet 10-20-30 miles away in any compass direction

and when that new ship ID's them, they signal our sub which will then follow in the enemy boat's baffles just like we did during the Cold War playing chicken-of-the-sea with the Soviets. Our subs would not hang out close to that sub finder/tracker craft.

Surface craft will run a screen so that the enemy would know a fully armed US Naval warship is close by to lend protection, if needed.

[lpbk2713]

8. Looks like something I made with scrap wood from my Dad's shop.

When I was around eight years old.