Warning: multi-UUVs swarm strike

UUVs are already in the hands of adversaries of the United States. There is evidence that the development of multi-UUVs swarm strike doctrines is underway, and US Army specialists believe it is only a matter of time before someone initiates such an attack against a US objective.

The Knifefish Program

One of the biggest focus areas of Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) development is decreasing risk for sailors deployed in mine-heavy areas.

The Knifefish program, led by General Dynamics, is one of the leading UUV technologies is this area. The underwater drone will be used for mine countermeasures aboard the littoral combat ship, said Tom Mason, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems’ senior program manager for Knifefish.

“With the ability to reliably detect and identify volume, bottom and buried mines in high-clutter environments, Knifefish acts as an off-board sensor while the host ship stays safely outside the minefield boundaries,” Mason said in an email to National Defense. “In addition to enhancing intelligence reporting and situational awareness for commanders and the fleet, Knifefish also significantly reduces risk to Navy personnel.”

UUVs and ASW: A brief look

A future increase in submarine construction and operations by both China and Russia are not the only development of concern in the undersea domain: As autonomous technology becomes more mature, UUVs will also operate independently in areas of potential crisis or strategic importance. Officers and enlisted personnel must have the necessary training to operate the improved platforms and sensors given the potential rise in foreign submarine operations as well as unknown UUV technological advancements.

Internationally, the development and use of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) for education and commercial use are expanding, but in the military realm, developed countries are exploring UUV deployment from submarines that will create a new dynamic in the undersea domain. These new platforms and technologies have established a new era of ASW operations from the days of the Cold War, and to meet expanded foreign submarine operations and UUV technological advancements, the U.S. surface naval force is employing state of the art Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) technology aboard numerous Arleigh Burke class destroyers: The SQQ-89A(V)15 Combat System, which will be aboard 64 destroyers by 2020, and the new Multi-Functional Towed Array (MFTA) are game changers in ASW operations.

  

Haiyan: ¿Getting ready for the Peace?

Although being developed for civilian uses, research universities in China and elsewhere maintain close links to the national military and Haiyan is likely to be used by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) — perhaps even in a modified armed version.

As an underwater glider, the Haiyan will be a boon to the PLAN’s efforts to detect enemy submarines which can be eliminated using Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) aircraft and naval capabilities. As Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer explain on their terrific Eastern Arsenals blog:

“Traditionally, area detection for ASW aircraft was done with sonobouys, small, sonar equipped buoys airdropped over an area of water. Underwater gliders have better endurance than sonobuoys, whose lifespan are often measured in just hours. The larger size of underwater gliders (the Haiyan is four times as large as the USN’s 16kg AN/SSQ-62E sonobuoy) also means that they can carry multiple sensor types to monitor changes in water temperature, conductivity, optical backscatter and acoustics. In the battle for detection of a stealthy submarine, using multiple sensor types increases the probability of finding the prey. Being self-propelled, UUVs can, in turn, cover a wider area. And unlike fixed underwater sonar stations, underwater gliders can be rapidly deployed via ships or airdrops to new uncovered areas (such as the Taiwan Straits or South China Sea), where their mobility complicates enemy efforts to disrupt and destroy them.”

During the test, the vehicle worked consecutively for 21 days and reached a depth of 1094 meters. With an endurance of 30 days, the torpedo-shaped vehicle propelled at a maximum underwater speed of close to 6 kilometers per hour. It seems highly unlikely that the Haiyan will see action during the current dispute with Vietnam over the oil rig, but Chinese media outlets have alleged that Vietnam is using combat divers (frogmen) to try and disrupt operations surrounding the Haiyang Shiyou 981 oil rig in the South China Sea. According to Want China Times, some Chinese media outlets have speculated that the Haiyan will be deployed to try and detect these combat drivers and other special forces being used by adversaries to disrupt Chinese activities in disputed waters.

The Haiyan is not China’s first UUV. In fact, Beijing already maintains larger and faster UUVs. Where the Haiyan does have an edge is that it is an underwater glider which conserves energy and thus heightens endurance. It also has more advanced computing and can transport information in real time and even make decisions about which course to follow in the sea. The Haiyan’s potential anti-submarine warfare (ASW) applications are likely to be especially useful for the PLAN as this is an area where Beijing has traditionally struggled. China’s perceived ASW weakness is being exploited by rival navies in Japan, Vietnam and the United States. Attack submarines would be key, for instance, in any American attempt to eliminate China’s anti-access/area denial capabilities.

The UUV can also be upgraded by the Chinese navy to serve as a underwater combat and patrol robot, taking on lengthy and dangerous missions like minesweeping and submarine detection, and offer protection for Chinese ships and oil platforms.

ASNE to Host L & R Symposium

According to American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE) the symposium provides an opportunity to learn about launch, recovery and operations of manned and unmanned vehicles from marine platforms.

Manned and unmanned vehicles include helicopters, rotorcraft, fixed-wing aircraft, RHIBs, high-speed craft, tenders, UAV, USV, UUV and more. Marine platforms include naval, coast guard, passenger and commercial ships, as well as offshore platforms and other vessels.

Agenda highlights:

•Opening Keynote by Coast Guard's new Chief Engineer

•Recent developments in automation of launch and recovery systems

•Key Safety considerations for launch and recovery operations

•Operational experience with launch and recovery on newest USN and USCG ship classes

•Latest analysis methods for predicting vehicle and ship interaction during launch and recovery

International and domestic segments of industry, government and academia with an interest in improving vehicle operations from surface craft and also from all researchers, designers and manufacturers who contribute the necessary technologies or products are encouraged to attend, ASNE said.

Keynote speakers:

•Rear Adm. Michael Haycock, USCG, Assistant Commandant for Engineering & Logistics (CG-4)

•Roy Thomas, Engineering Manager, Corporate Chief Engineer's Office, ABS

•Capt. Christopher Saindon, USN, Director, Aviation Safety Programs, U.S. Naval Safety Center

The event is slated to take place November 19-20, 201 at the Maritime Institute conference center in Linthicum, Md.

U.S. Navy Development Squadron 5 Receives First LTV 38

As a Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV), LTV 38 is able to perform at a maximum depth of 1,000 meters for up to 72 hours.

It is designed as a full-pressure hull vehicle, capable of both line of sight and over the horizon communications, and can also conduct limited autonomous contact avoidance maneuvers via acoustic sensors while anchored and such missions are conducted and controlled remotely.

LTV 38 was originally developed for the Sea Stalker program. The vehicle is 27 feet in length and 38 inches in diameter, and was originally assembled in 2008 by Penn State University's UUV land-based test facility at State College, Pennsylvania.

It underwent its first series of operational tests shortly after its assembly and made its first operational deployment on the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96). Once a few final operational preparations are completed over the next few weeks, it will be ready to hit the water for both capabilities tests and proficiency training.

"This is certainly a key milestone for Detachment UUV in that we will have a baseline training vehicle for the future of Large Displacement UUVs," said Lt. Brian Nuss, officer in charge at Detachment UUV. "The future large-diameter vehicles will come in 2020 and in order for the detachment to fully prepare for the delivery of those vehicles we have to start with the tactics, training and procedures now to make it a successful program in the future. We couldn't have done this without the partnership from Keyport, Penn State and Commander, Submarine Force Pacific, supporting us both financially and realizing that there's a gap in training that needs to be filled for Det. UUV to succeed in the future," Added.

The use of unmanned vehicles in the undersea environment is projected to grow for the Navy. During a recent visit to the Pacific Northwest, Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Jonathan Greenert, told Sailors he envisions having autonomous underwater vehicles on patrol by the end of the decade. UUVs allow naval submarines to safely gain access to denied areas with revolutionary sensors and weapons. These areas may be denied based on unacceptable risks to a submarine such as extremely shallow water, very poor acoustic conditions, or mined waters. UUVs provide unique capabilities and extend the "reach" of naval platforms while reducing the risk to the submarine and its crew.

UUV Market Forecast

  Gobally, the key figures are as follows:

• UUV FORECAST:
• Market is forecast to total US$4.84 Billion by 2019, growing at a high CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) from 2014 to 2019.
• The UUV market will show a stringent growth for defense operations like anti-submarine warfare, including oil and gas applications like mine hunting, mine counter measures, oil rig constructions, and pipeline inspection activities.
• The Asia-Pacific region specifically, the BRIC countries will prove to be the emerging markets for UUVs, with their activities focused in the scientific research, and oil and gas sectors.

• ROV FORECAST: 
• The global ROV market is estimated to be $1.2 Billion in 2014 and expected register a CAGR of 20.11% in 2019.
• The ROV market future can be dominated by the AUV in the coming decades.
• Regarding manufacturers, SAAB (Sweden), Fugro (The Netherlands), Oceaneering (U.S.), will be the market leaders that occupy a significant market share for ROV.
• Offshore drilling will remain the prime sector for ROV. The technological trends will be adressed to increase the number of payloads.                       

• AUV FORECAST: 
• The global AUV market is estimated to be $457 Million in 2014 and expected register a CAGR of 31.95% in 2019.
• The improved AUV capabilities and the autonomy feature will involve the AUV for operations that restrict the use of ROV due to entanglement.
• The endurance and miniaturization of AUV will strive to be the prime driver for undersea operations.
• The introduction of the AIP (Air Independent Propulsion) systems and solar cells technology will change the future of the AUV.
• Kongsberg (Norway), Teledyne (U.S.), Bluefin Robotics (U.S.), and Atlas Elektronik (Germany), will be the leaders in the AUV market.
• Defense and oceanographic studies will remain a major sector for AUV. The technological trends will be focused to the miniaturization.                                                                                                            Another Keypoints to bear in mind: 

1. With the evolution of technology, better endurance, miniaturization, and enhanced payloads, ROV and AUV will be efficiently used for undersea activities.
2. The commercialization of ROV and AUV and its increased capabilities will revolutionize their growth over the years.                                             
3. The reduction in the price of ROV and AUV will be a major concern for manufacturers.
4. The ROV and AUV markets will be driven by the increasing need of ROV and AUV in areas such as:

• Offshore drilling
• Oceanographic studies
• Underwater inspection and maintenance
• Surveillance and security

Navy readies ‘robo-tuna’

“It mimics a fish. It looks like a fish. We call it robo-tuna, affectionately, but it is a UUV. It does not have a propeller or a jet. It actually swims by flipping its tail around,” says Capt. Jim Loper, concepts and innovation department head, Navy Warfare Development Command, Norfolk. “We’re imaging this can loiter for days, possibly weeks on a battery that allows it to maintain its position. This is a sensor we can put out there that matches in with the local life so to speak,”

Part of what makes the “robo-tuna” such an asset, besides its stealth nature and ability to swim up to 40 knots, can be traced back to fish biology. “The fact that the front portion of the animal is mainly stationary when swimming is important because when you carrying sensors, you don’t want everything moving all over the place and messing up what you are carrying on board,” says Mark Smithers, vice president and chief technology officer at Boston Engineering. The Navy hopes that as technology advances its new UUV will be readily available for missions such as undersea mine detection and extended surveillance of ships, ports and submarines.

US Navy: UUV Services Requirement

The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport (NUWCDIVNPT) has a requirement for services to perform systems engineering, system development, technical analysis, installation, integration, testing and evaluation services in support of U.S. Navy, Government-owned Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV) (Read more)