VIDEO: Taiwan Reveals First Domestically Made Submarine in Defense Milestone
Taiwan unveiled its first domestically developed submarine on Thursday, a major step in a project aimed at strengthening the island's defense and deterrence against the Chinese navy, though it won't enter service for another two years.Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has made the indigenous submarine program a key part of an ambitious project to modernize its armed forces as Beijing stages almost daily military exercises to assert its sovereignty.President Tsai Ing-wen, who initiated the plan when she took office in 2016, showed off the first of eight new submarines on Thursday
Voyis Discovery Camera Integrated with Deep Trekker REVOLUTION ROV
Canadian underwater technology companies Voyis and Deep Trekker have joined forces to achieve an exceptional integration: the fusion of Voyis' cutting-edge Discovery camera with Deep Trekker's REVOLUTION ROV (Remote Operating Vehicle). the REVOLUTION ROV features a unique rotating head facilitating optimal positioning of attachments such as imaging sonar and grabbers, and it is capable of descending to depths of up to 305 meters. The ROV employs six powerful thrusters for precise control in both vertical and lateral movements. It is built with a carbon fiber shell, anodized aluminum
Taiwan Expects to Deploy Two New Submarines by 2027
Taiwan hopes to deploy at least two new, domestically developed submarines by 2027, and possibly equip later models with missiles, to strengthen deterrence against the Chinese navy and protect key supply lines, the head of the program said.Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has made the indigenous sub program a key part of an ambitious project to modernise its armed forces as Beijing stages almost daily military exercises to assert its sovereignty.President Tsai Ing-wen, who initiated the program when she took office in 2016, is expected to launch the first of eight new submarines on
U.S. Revives Cold War Submarine Spy Program to Counter China
democratically ruled territory, which Beijing wants brought under its control.The IUSS revamp project has not previously been reported. It involves modernizing America’s existing network of underwater acoustic spy cables and retrofitting a fleet of surveillance ships with cutting-edge sensors and subsea microphones, moves aimed at boosting the military’s ability to spy on its foes. The United States has agreed to sell Australia similar technology to help bolster allied defenses in the Pacific region.The most innovative change in the Navy’s ocean reconnaissance system is an investment
US Navy Deploys a Fleet of Saildrones to the Caribbean
Commercial operators began deploying 10 Saildrone Voyager Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) out to sea, a critical first step in U.S. 4th Fleet’s Operation Windward Stack.Launched from Naval Air Station Key West’s Mole Pier and Truman Harbor, the Saildrones’ mission once on station is to improve maritime domain awareness, or MDA, by detecting and quantifying targets that pass within range of the Saildrones’ sensors.Operation Windward Stack is a long-term operation of unmanned and manned forces working together, also known as a hybrid fleet, as envisioned by the Secretary of the
EIVA Containerized ROTV to the Royal Navy
EIVA a/s was awarded a contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) with a total value of approximately $4 million to deliver a containerised remotely operated towed vehicle (ROTV) solution displaying data in NaviSuite software. When delivered, the ROTV, an EIVA ScanFish L, will be integrated into the Royal Navy’s seabed warfare system of systems. Capable of operating from different host platforms, this system will enable the simultaneous operation of multiple acoustic survey sensors and instruments. Able to operate beyond the continental shelf the containerised ROTV
US Navy-owned FLIP Research Platform Retired from Service
A dynamic era in naval oceanography recently ended as the iconic Floating Instrument Platform — popularly known as FLIP — was officially retired from service.Built in 1962 with funding from the Office of Naval Research (ONR), FLIP helped generations of scientists and oceanographers better understand the mysteries of the sea, including internal waves, air-sea interaction and long-range sound propagation. Sadly, age and exorbitant life-extension costs resulted in the platform being disestablished.On Aug. 3, a solemn gathering of well-wishers watched as FLIP was towed, at sunset, to a dismantli
Indonesian Government Buys UK-Built Submarine Rescue System
contract with the Indonesian Navy follows the recent change in ownership at SMP resulting from the sale of the company to a new shareholder team. The former owner, Phil Connolly, remains Chairman of SMP. The new management team now comprises several of the world’s leading submarine rescue experts, subsea and diving specialists, engineers and naval architects. They understand each element of the subsea support and rescue industry and have unrivalled knowledge of the problems their products solve and the real-life impact they have on submarine operations
BAE Systems and Cellula Robotics to Run XLAUV Pilot in 2024
British defense contractor BAE Systems said it is teaming up with Canadian marine technology company Cellula Robotics to showcase the capabilities of its new extra large autonomous underwater vehicle (XLAUV), known as Herne, on a technology demonstrator in the water in the second half of 2024.As acts of subsea aggression and threats to the underwater domain persist, autonomous platforms like XLAUVs are expected have a role in helping militaries overcome the challenge that the vast expanses of the underwater battlespace present, enabling them to monitor much larger areas without the limitations of a human
NPS Research on Coast Guard Icebreaker to Enhance Arctic Readiness
During a seven-week Arctic transit aboard the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker USCGC Healy (WAGB 20), researchers from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) will study the impact of the extreme environment on crew performance and potential mitigations, as well as advanced Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies in adverse sea conditions.The studies, which commenced with Healy’s departure from Kodiak, Alaska on Aug. 26, will be led by principal investigator Dr. Nita Shattuck, a professor in the NPS Operations Research (OR) department. Shattuck’s research leverages her years of studying crew
Kraken Robotics Reports Strong Q2
Kraken Robotics Inc. has announced solid financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.Products revenue in the quarter was $10.5 million, an increase of 24% over the comparable quarter. The increase was the result of continued sales of KATFISH, subsea batteries, work with the Canadian Navy on its RMDS program as well as the sale of synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) systems. Services revenue in the quarter was $3.2 million, a decrease of 45% over the comparable quarter due to a large Acoustic Corer project in the comparable quarter a year ago. Sequentially, services revenues increased 41%
US Navy Awards Leidos Unmanned Vessels Contract
Tech company Leidos was recently awarded a new task order by Naval Sea Systems Command to manage, operate and maintain the U.S. Navy’s Overlord and medium unmanned surface vessels (USVs). The single-award task order has a one-year base period of performance and two one-year options. The task order has a maximum value of approximately $95 million if all options are exercised.“Leidos is leading a new era of naval operations,” said Gerry Fasano, Leidos Defense Group president. “The Leidos team has unmatched experience and expertise in autonomous vessel design and operations
Unmanned Maritime Systems Development Accelerates
There is little question that world militaries see the value of unmanned systems to complement their manned counterparts. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan accelerated the development of unmanned aerial systems and unmanned ground systems to meet urgent operational needs. Now, there is increasing interest in unmanned surface systems, resulting in their placement on an accelerated development path.Like their air and ground counterparts, these unmanned surface systems are valued because of their ability to reduce the risk to human life in high threat areas, to deliver persistent surveillance over areas
Electric Boat Lays Keel for Submarine Tang (SSN 805)
General Dynamics Electric Boat held a keel laying for the Virginia-class submarine Tang (SSN 805) at its facility in Quonset Point, North Kingstown, R.I.The submarine will be the third ship in the U.S. Navy to carry the name Tang. The first USS Tang was a Balao-class submarine, SS 306, credited as the most successful U.S. submarine of WWII, sinking the most tonnage of any U.S. submarine—33 enemy ships—on five war patrols over the course of just 14 months."This ship represents our ongoing commitment to provide the Navy with the most capable and lethal submarines it needs to ensure our
Russia to Equip New Nuclear Submarines with Hypersonic Missiles
Russia is in the process of equipping its new nuclear submarines with hypersonic Zircon missiles, the head of Russia's largest shipbuilder told the RIA state news agency in an interview published on Monday."Multi-purpose nuclear submarines of the Yasen-M project will ... be equipped with the Zircon missile system on a regular basis," , Alexei Rakhmanov, chief executive officer of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), told RIA."Work in this direction is already underway."Yasen-class submarines, also known as Project 885M, are nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines
Romania Deploys Vessel, Helicopter to Find Stray Black Sea Mines
Romania's navy said it deployed a ship and a helicopter on Monday to scout for stray mines on the country's Black Sea coast, after a pier in the seaside resort of Costinesti was damaged in an explosion.Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and mines have since then been laid in the Black Sea by the combatants. Romanian, Bulgarian and Turkish military diving teams have been defusing those that have drifted into their waters.The sea is crucial for shipments of grain, oil and oil products and is shared by Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia and Turkey, as well as Ukraine and Russia.Romania's navy
ROVCO Wins Survey Work at Proposed 1.4GW Floating Wind Farm Site
Rovco, a UK-based subsea robotics and survey firm, has won a contract with Flotation Energy to carry out a geo-environmental survey at its planned Cenos floating offshore windfarm, 200 kilometers off the north-east coast of Scotland.Located in the Central North Sea, the planned 1.4 GW Cenos floating wind development will cover approximately 333 km2. Rovco will deploy its multi-purpose, custom-reconfigured DP2 survey vessel, the Glomar Supporter, to carry out the work.It is expected that the project will comprise subsea studies of the floating wind turbine generators, mooring line anchor
First AUV Launched from a Moving Submarine
An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) has been launched from a moving submarine in what is said to be a world first.U.S.-based tech company L3Harris said it worked with industry partners to develop and integrate what it calls a Torpedo Tube Launch and Recovery (TTL&R) solution, a homing and docking solution that enables fully autonomous launch and recovery of AUVs from submarines that are underway.“We basically started with flashlights and a hoop to teach the vehicle to get into a torpedo tube with a very small (error) margin,” said Daryl Slocum, AUV Technology Director at L3Harris.
Fincantieri, CABI ink pact on Subsea Warfare Vehicles
Fincantieri and C.A.B.I. Cattaneo (CABI), a company in the design, development and supply of underwater vehicles for the Special Forces of the Navy, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the evaluation of commercial and industrial cooperation in the field of underwater vehicles and related integration with larger units.The agreement was signed in the presence of Admiral Enrico Credendino, Chief of Staff of the Navy, by Pierroberto Folgiero and Alberto Villa, respectively Chief Executive Officer of Fincantieri and CABI.The MoU will make it possible to integrate underwater
August 2023
