Elbit Systems [ESLT] successfully completed the first torpedo launch test from the Seagull multi-mission, autonomous Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) system, the company said Tuesday.
The trail was performed out of the Haifa, Israel port and demonstrated the capability of Seagull to install and launch light weight torpedoes. This adds to the advanced capabilities of the USV, which is designed to carry out unmanned maritime missions like protection of critical sea areas and high-value assets against submarines and sea mines.
The Seagull was first introduced earlier in 2016 as a 12-meter long multi-mission USV equipped with one or two vessels that can be operated and controlled from manned ships or shore. Its multi-mission capabilities can be employed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), mine countermeasures (MCM), electronic warfare (EW), maritime security, and other related missions. The Seagull can leverage modular mission system installation and offer a high level of autonomy in these operations, Elbit said.
In its full configuration, the USV can deliver unmanned end-to-end mine hunting operation capability and features C4I capabilities for enhanced situational awareness, the company added. It also has a large fuel capacity that allows it to remain at sea for days.
“The success of this test demonstrates Seagull’s modular mission system capability, enabling a highly effective Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) configuration of high performance dipping sonar using two single tube torpedoes,” Ofer Ben-Dov, vice president for Elbit’s ISTAR division in its naval systems business line, said in a statement.
“The test highlighted Seagull’s unique capacity to detect and engage submarines, in addition to its ability to detect and destroy sea mines–all using the same multi-mission USV system in modular configurations. This new and important capability has, to date, only been available to navies through manned vehicles,” he added.