NavyX - the Royal Navy’s new Autonomy and Lethality Accelerator

[xav]

T-600 Drone Deploys Sting Ray Lightweight Torpedo

BAE Systems and Malloy Aeronautics have demonstrated the capabilities of the T-600 heavy lift uncrewed air system (UAS) to launch a torpedo

-> https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... t-torpedo/

[Poiuytrewq]

Game changer!

No need for ASROC now.

[donald_of_tokyo]

Game changer!

No need for ASROC now.

Game changer. No need for ship-carried torpedo tubes now.

ASROC? Might be needed, still. This drone cannot fly in Mach-2 out to 40 km, like J-ASROC does.

[serge750]

Would the drone be more limited by weather than a merlin aswell ? on the flip side though - the drone is way more expendable the crew of the merlin ! but would still like to have J -ASROC weopon for speed, more options are good to have in a potential life & death situation

[new guy]

Game changer!

No need for ASROC now.

Game changer. No need for ship-carried torpedo tubes now.

ASROC? Might be needed, still. This drone cannot fly in Mach-2 out to 40 km, like J-ASROC does.

Deployment speed is way slower than a TLS though.

[Poiuytrewq]

Would the drone be more limited by weather than a merlin aswell ? on the flip side though - the drone is way more expendable the crew of the merlin ! but would still like to have J -ASROC weopon for speed, more options are good to have in a potential life & death situation

The big question is what will the next-gen ASW drone be able to do?

How long before we see Hunter-Killer ASW drones able to find, track and destroy submarines without relying on information from other assets?

It appears to be the evolution of the drone technology that is travelling at Mach2.

[donald_of_tokyo]

Game changer!

No need for ASROC now.

Game changer. No need for ship-carried torpedo tubes now.

ASROC? Might be needed, still. This drone cannot fly in Mach-2 out to 40 km, like J-ASROC does.

Deployment speed is way slower than a TLS though.

Yes. Related, I have some thoughts.

- We all know RN is walking away from TLS, steadily. I "guess" it means, if you have your enemy sub within that range, you are at big risk. In other words, if RN SSN can stay within such a close distance, the enemy ships can be sunk easily.

- Some navies, including RN, are thinking less of hull sonar. JMSDF Mogami-class and USN Constellation class only has mine-avoidance sonar as a hull sonar (while they carry big CAPTAS4). In other words, for RN SSN, enemy frigates and corvettes with only a hull sonar is not a big threat (*1). I understand this is because of greatly enhanced SSN/SSK's sonar-stealth technologies (anti-active sonar) as well as silence (passive).

- As RN is pushing for torpedo-defense system installation (SeaSentor), even to RFA and T31 (without ASW sonar!), I think RN is thinking jamming enemy torpedo can be done. I "guess" RN thinks, torpedo-defense is the highest priority for "close-in" ASW warfare, and not the attack capability of TLS.

All in all, I think RN is aiming for a bit "distant" engagement with enemy subs, using CAPTAS4 and/or Merlin, and "close-in" is focused on torpedo defense. Torpedo carrying drones will be a good tool to be coupled with CAPTAS4, as is the ASROC = if your enemy sub location is well-resolved, you do not need to fly your expensive Merlin just to throw a StingRay on it. The Merlin can focus on hunting other subs, using its superb ASW sensor kits.

And, as you know, ASROC is a (kind of) missile, which is, by definition, a kind of "self-destructive attack drones". Torpedo carrying drones and ASROC (or Ikara system, if you like) are sisters.

*1 : Note that, many here saying "a hull sonar is a powerful tool for ASW" is virtually saying "hundreds of corvettes/light-frigates with a hull sonar is a big threat for RN SSN, and all modern SSK". Two aspects of the same topic. If "corvettes/light-frigates with a hull sonar" is NOT a big threat for RN SSN, and all modern SSK, RN frigates equipped with hull sonar is not an efficient ASW assets anymore.

[donald_of_tokyo]

The torpedo drone looks very cool. I can't imagine the range is great, but the concept is good. Wonder if it could be extended to use a dipping sonar?

Interesting point. These drones can provide
- super-light-weight dipping sonar = just reusable active sonobuoy will do something?
- drones distributing sonobuoys and a drone up in the sky transferring their signals to the mother ship
I understand it is doable even now. Just need some trials/verifications?

[xav]

Royal Navy Demonstrates Experimental Vessel Patrick Blackett Capabilities At REPMUS

The UK Royal Navy (RN) has deployed the experimental vessel Patrick Blackett outside UK waters for the first time, with the ship showing its capabilities as a technology demonstrator platform at the combined ‘REPMUS’/‘Dynamic Messenger’ uncrewed systems exercises taking place off Troia, southern Portugal.
...
“Next year, we want to deploy our own organic autonomous systems from – if it’s possible – an autonomous ship. We know that’s a really ambitious target, and it might not work, and that’s OK. The important thing is setting it up to operate with the autonomous systems.”

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... at-repmus/

[Ian Hall]

https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/ba ... 29.article

[Ian Hall]

PROTEUS – developing an uncrewed helicopter for the Royal Navy

https://www.navylookout.com/proteus-dev ... oyal-navy/

[Jackstar]

Banshee drone flying over Cornwall.