Portugal hosts NATO’s Maritime Unmanned Systems Initiative

Unmanned surface vessels range from the big Sea Hunter, built by Vigor Indus- trial, to smaller assets such as Aqua Quads or Wave Gliders. 

Dozens of unmanned underwater, surface and air vehicles from NATO countries are gathering in Portugal from 11 to 27 September 2019 to test new technological advances in unmanned maritime systems networks. The exercise is being held in the Sesimbra and Troia Peninsula area in the south of Lisbon. 

Exercise REP (MUS) 19 is an opportunity to test the interoperability of maritime unmanned systems technologies and to test procedures and tactics for Maritime Unmanned Systems used by NATO countries.

Around 800 personnel from the Portuguese Navy, as well as from Belgium, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Turkey and the NATO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation are contributing to the exercise. The exercise is also being supported by academia and industry.

New maritime unmanned systems technologies can be a game-changer in countering multiple threats in the maritime domain. Using Maritime Unmanned Vehicles can help effectively counter new submarines armed with more powerful weapons. They can also prevent military personnel from moving into risky situations in countering threats like sea mines.

WHAT ARE MARITIME UNMANNED SYSTEMS?

Maritime unmanned systems comprise all systems, subsystems, components, ve- hicles, equipment and logistics for the operation of unmanned vehicles. They do not carry human operators.

Members of the Office of US Naval Research launch the REMUS 600 autonomous underwater vehi- cle for mine search and identification operations in the Baltic Sea in 2018.

Maritime unmanned systems may include assets such as surface vessels, under- water vessels or aerial vehicles.

Unmanned surface vessels range from the big Sea Hunter, built by Vigor Indus- trial, to smaller assets such as Aqua Quads or Wave Gliders. Unmanned underwa- ter vessels come in all sizes from buoyancy gliders to extra-large vessels.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF MARITIME UNMANNED SYSTEMS?

Maritime unmanned systems:

• are smaller and less detectable than manned platforms
• are more focused on payload (no passengers)
• reduce personnel and unit costs
• may operate independently for extended periods
• may operate in almost all water depths, in foul weather and seas, and in tropical or arctic conditions
• remove the need to staff dangerous areasThey will contribute to:Maritime situational awareness

• Data can be captured, fused, exploited and disseminated in a timely and focused manner.

Mine counter-measures

• Navies may rapidly establish large, safe operating areas and transit routes and lanes.
• Navies can detect and clear sea mines without putting personnel at risk in dangerous situations.Anti-submarine warfare

• Transiting unfriendly submarines may be identified.
• Friendly naval assets or sea bases may be protected from unfriendly submarines with unmanned air systems and unmanned surface vessels working in concert.
• Secure passage of maritime assets in transiting key routes will be ensured, helping NATO to ensure access and freedom of manoeuvre.
• Surveillance and detection capabilities help counter modern stealth subma- rines that possess long-range offensive capabilities.

3

An experimental trial is completed in 2019 with a BAE Systems’ unmanned surface vessel, fitted with lightweight remote surface weapon. The vessel can operate for up to 10 days at ‘patrol speed’ or 300 nautical miles in pursuit mode, reaching speeds of up to 45 knot. WHY ARE MARITIME UNMANNED SYSTEMS IMPORTANT? At sea, mines, terrorist activities, smuggling and piracy are threats to NATO Al- lies’ ability to operate freely in maritime commons.The use of unmanned systems will enable NATO Allies to be more effective in crucial capability areas, such as detecting and clearing mines, and finding and tracking submarines. Working alongside traditional naval assets, these un- manned systems will improve NATO Allies’ situational awareness and will ensure free access to the seas.

At the 2018 Brussels Summit, NATO leaders reaffirmed the strategic importance of the maritime domain and the need to reinvigorate core maritime warfighting competencies.

In response, NATO Allies are working together to develop and procure maritime technology that increases operational effectiveness, limits risk to human life and reduces operational costs.

WHAT IS NATO DOING?

Through multinational cooperation, NATO supports the rapid delivery of mari- time capabilities to counter the wide range of existing and emerging threats in the maritime domain.

On 3 October 2019, Defence Ministers from thirteen NATO Allies signed a declaration of intent to cooperate on the introduction of Maritime Unmanned Systems. France joined on 11 April 2019.

Fourteen nations are currently pooling resources, talent and ingenuity to develop more flexible and interoperable maritime unmanned vehicles and systems.

These countries are: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

WHAT IS NATO EXPERIMENTATION REPMUS 2019?NATO Allies are experimenting with innovative maritime unmanned systems in real-life scenarios such as search and rescue operations, harbour protection and anti-submarine and naval mine warfare.WHO?Host nation: Portugal Participants:NATO Allies: Belgium, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States NATO body: NATO Centre for Maritime Research and ExperimentationResearch centres and industry: academics from the University of Porto; a range of industry participants. WHAT?Autonomous surface vesselsAutonomous underwater vehiclesUnmanned aerial vehiclesSecure underwater digital communications with a submarine WHEN?11 to 27 September 2019

WHERE?

In the North Atlantic Portuguese exercise areas near Troia

WHY?

Conducted every year, NATO experimentation REPMUS (Recognised Environ- mental Picture augmented by Maritime Unmanned Systems) is designed as an experimentation ground for maritime operational communities to work togeth- er to develop and test concepts, requirements and technological advances in maritime unmanned systems.

NATO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation tests innovative solution for underwater acoustic networks during REP18.