Euronaval 2024 – Naval Group and Exail partnership presents its unmanned MCM toolbox and mothership solution
In July 2024, the first of the twelve MCM vessels (MCMV) of the Belgian-Dutch rMCM (replacementMCM) programme, which was built and today is in the outfitting phase by Kership joint-venture between Naval Group and Piriou in Concarneau (Bretagne, France), conducted its first sea trials campaign with the plan to be delivered in summer 2025. Delivery of the first set of drones, command and control (C2) and transportation containers is planned for the Q3 2025, according to the presentation provided by the consortium at the Piriou headquarters in Concarneau, during the pre-Euronaval tour
The sea trials successful beginning represents a key milestone in the first European MCM programme led by the Belgium Naval & Robotics consortium formed by Naval Group and Exail, where the operators are kept out of the minefield thanks to a toolbox of unmanned systems operating autonomously inside it under the overall control and carrying support of a mothership crew outside the danger area.
Under a contract awarded in 2019, the consortium where Exail is the alliance between ECA Group and iXblue, is supplying twelve MCMVs and around a hundred drones integrated inside the toolbox that will equip the vessels.
The Oostende, the first ship of the programme intended for the Belgian Navy, is expected to continue sea trials for a delivery scheduled in summer 2025 in Zeebrugge, Belgium, confirmed the consortium representative, while the following platforms and unmanned systems packages will be staggered until 2030.
The following two ships, the Vlissingen for the Royal Netherlands and the Tournai for the Belgian Navy were launched respectively in October 2023 and June 2024, being visible at Concarneau in different stage of outfitting. The fourth ship in the series, the Scheveningen is planned to be launched in December 2024, while a total of seven ships are under construction and assembly at Concarneau and Lanester, the Kership joint venture facilities.
The solution represents a complete paradigm shift in the way mine warfare is conducted, as the ship and the controlling operators remain at a distance from the danger zone. It also means that the speed with which the mined area can be dealt with is ten times faster than with the conventional means.
While Naval Group acts as overall architect and prime contractor, being responsible for the design of the ships, the overall integration, and the testing and commissioning of the mission system (combat and MCM systems), as co-contractor, Exail oversees the unmanned package, most of which is produced in Ostend, Belgium.
The package under delivery includes twelve MCMV platforms with a length and beam of respectively 82.6 and 17 metres, and a full load displacement of 2,800 tonnes, capable to reach a maximum speed of 15.3 knots, with a range of over 3,500 nautical miles and accommodation for 63 people acting as motherships with controllers employing a ‘toolbox’ of unmanned surface (USV), underwater (UUV) and air (UAV) vehicles from outside the minefield.
As the first 3rd generation MCM system with an open architecture enabling third parties assets integration and interoperability, being capable to be deployed from a ship or from shore, the Exail UMIS toolbox not only includes a set of various unmanned systems but also a software suite for mission preparation and supervision, as well as data analysis and management,.
Each mothership is equipped with the Exail UMISOFT MCM mission package and with the Naval Group Multi-Drone Mission System (MDMS) for unmanned mission planning, execution, and data analysis, all integrated with Naval Group SETIS-C combat management system, the latter managing a combat system including a Thales NS50 air/surface multifunction radar, Terma Scanter 6000 navigation/surface/air surveillance, one sonar mine avoidance system by Exail, two long range acoustic devices, Saab TactiCall communication suite, Chess Dynamics Sea Eagle EO/IR fire control systems, a BAE Systems Bofors 40 Mk 4 40 mm main gun and FN Herstal Sea defender 12.7 mm remote weapon stations. Each platform is equipped with two side stations, each one able to launch and recover a 12.3 metres Inspector 125 USV, available in two different models. Fitted with obstacle and avoidance systems including the Exail FLS-5 forward looking sonar, the shock-resistant and composite materiel-made Inspector 125 USVs are fitted with an antiroll system and a complete suite to operate autonomously and connected with the mothership with a high carrying capacity.
The latter allows to carry the common launch and recovery system (LARS) for both the A-18M autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) equipped with the UMISAS 120 interferometric synthetic aperture sonar (SAS), and the towed T-18M vehicle system for the UMISAS 240 SAS. These systems are able to obtain a spatial resolution in the order of 3 x 3cm to best classify small and irregularly shaped objects (in the order of 50 cm on the side perpendicular to the sonar’s axis of view), together with high area coverage rates. For the identification and neutralization operations, the Inspector 125 carries a suite of mine disposal systems (MDS) including the Seascan Mk2 and the K-ster C remotely operated vehicles. A different model of the Inspector 125 USV carries the minesweeping suite integrating five Polish Ośrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy Centrum Techniki Morskiej modules and a Patria acoustic module, all provided by Exail. The specialized and cyber secured by design MCMVs are also equipped with UMS Skeldar V-200 UAVs. They can carry a radio relay to increase the communication range with an EO/IR turret, the latter alternatively replaced by a LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) system.
In total, each mother ship carries two Inspector 125 USVs, 3 A18-M AUVs, 2 T18-M towed sonar systems, 4 Seascan inspection ROVs, up to 40 K-Ster C neutralization ROVs, 2 Skeldar V200 UAVs, one clearance dive team, one force protection payload and one mine sweeping suite.
According to the consortium representative, the Inspector 125 qualification trials of the first and second series vehicle are on-going, alongside the MIDS, A18-M and T18-M systems trials. The Belgian Navy personnel training has started in early September 2024 while factory acceptance tests of the 3rd batch of drones will begin in November 2024.
Operational qualification of the drones will follow the trials of the Naval Group motherships in Q1 and Q2 2025, the delivery of the first set of drones, C2 and transportation containers being planned for Q3 2025.
Photos courtesy Naval Group, ECA Group, L. Peruzzi
