British Navy Tests Unmanned Spy Speedboat on Thames
Local Editor
The British Royal Navy, exploring the future of maritime warfare, is testing an autonomous speedboat on the Thames River.
The unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance vessel is 34 feet long and can track high-speed targets at speeds up to 60 mph. The currently unarmed watercraft, named the Maritime Autonomy Surface Testbed [MAST], is one of 40 prototypes the Royal Navy will test in the Unmanned Warrior games in October off the northern coast of Scotland.
MAST could signal a new generation of watercraft, equipped with sensors for scouting and spy missions, according to Navy commanders.
"The growing scale of Unmanned Warrior is a clear demonstration of the Royal Navy's ambition to lead and win through technological innovation," said Admiral Sir Philip Jones, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff.
Jones added, "Unmanned maritime systems will change how we operate, but they're just the start. Our pursuit of new technologies and ideas, from big data to 3D-printing, will ensure we remain one of the most capable and successful navies in the world."
According to the Navy, MAST can be manned, or operated remotely or autonomously, thanks to avoidance detection technology.
"This is a chance to take a great leap forward in maritime systems," said Cdr. Peter Pipkin, "not to take people out of the loop but to enhance everything they do, to extend our reach, our look, our timescales, our efficiency using intelligent and manageable robotics at sea."
MAST is based on the existing Bladerunner hull, and was built for the Ministry of Defense. The littoral drone is outfitted with technology that is still under wraps.
According to Elizabeth Quintana, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute, the new watercraft are built for "dull, dirty, and dangerous" tasks, but could also be used to protect warships from enemy speedboats.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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