According to foreign media reports, the US Navy recently conducted the first operational test of an unmanned surface ship in the Gulf of Aqaba near the Jordanian coast in the northern Red Sea.
Public information shows that the surface ship code-named "Unmanned Sailing Explorer" is an autonomous unmanned surface vehicle. The hull is 7 meters long, 5 meters high, and the draft is 2 meters deep, using wind power to sail, using solar energy to power the equipment on board, and theoretically unlimited range. The ship's main sensors measure wind speed and direction, air humidity and salinity, wave height and water depth, and the actual use effectiveness has been verified in many tasks such as hydrographic mapping and maritime safety.
According to the report, the "unmanned sailing explorer" combines wind propulsion technology with solar-powered meteorological and marine sensors to autonomously and remotely collect maritime information in harsher marine environments and provide sea situational awareness data. It can use the on-board computing equipment to send target data in real time without exposing its location, improving information and decision-making advantages. It also provides high-resolution hydrographic mapping data for navigation, communications, exploration, and marine research.
In terms of practicality, the "unmanned sailing explorer" involves a wide range of tasks. The first is to carry out intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance tasks, grasp the strategic situation at sea, track ship targets, and carry out satellite communication links. The second is to provide the necessary protection for vulnerable targets and enhance threat detection capabilities. The third is to support maritime law enforcement, detect illegal activities such as piracy, drug transport, human trafficking or illegal fishing, and issue alarms. The fourth is to monitor the offshore ecosystem, detect oil spills and diffusion accidents, and monitor activities in offshore protected areas.
In terms of maneuverability, the "unmanned sailing explorer" emphasizes the ability to navigate autonomously. In addition to monitoring the progress of the mission via satellite, the controller also sets a pre-set safety range between established waypoints, within which it navigates autonomously. Unmanned sailing ships can reach most designated locations from the nearest coast within 30 days, covering a large area of the sea.
The test is part of the U.S. military's "Digital Horizon" exercise, which aims to test maritime reconnaissance capabilities with a view to integrating new maritime unmanned systems and artificial intelligence technologies into U.S. naval combat operations as soon as possible. It is reported that the Royal Jordanian Naval Base is the main station for this type of equipment in the local area.
At present, the U.S. Navy is vigorously promoting the integration of various types of unmanned platforms into the combat network to improve maritime situational awareness and threat response capabilities. In the future, this unmanned sailing ship will also be equipped with more sensor systems and deployed around the world, forming a continuous presence in the high seas and coastal areas.
(China National Defense Daily, January 18, 2022, fourth edition)
Source: China National Defense Daily