Defence contractor Raytheon will provide the US Navy with the AN/AQS-20C system for $25.5 million, according to the Military Aerospace Electronics. This method contains an fascinating little gadget – robotic Barracuda underwater drones, which, it have to be mentioned, are one-use.
The US Navy will obtain a particular radio-controlled robotic torpedo Barracuda from the well-known arms producer Raytheon in 2025. The Barracuda is actually an underwater suicide drone, a wise torpedo, a part of the AN/AQS-20C system. $25.5 million {dollars} are allotted for the event and manufacturing of those methods.
Barracuda is a robotic semi-autonomous unmanned underwater car that identifies and destroys mines. (Screenshot, Raytheon)
The AN/AQS-20C is a sonar-based system designed to detect and destroy underwater mines. Mines in seas are very harmful and may be troublesome to detect – they’re made like that.
After all, they’re harmful for warships, however even after the tip of the battle they’ll additionally pose a hazard to industrial or leisure delivery. They need to be eliminated each time it’s potential.
Producer Raytheon writes that the AN/AQS-20C system consists of 4 sonars that work collectively to detect, classify and determine mine-like objects at varied depths. As soon as a mine is recognized, it have to be destroyed – that’s the job for the Barracuda underwater drone.
The Barracuda is a really compact semi-autonomous disposable demining system with a size of 90 cm and a diameter of 12 cm. Raytheon has been creating this good torpedo on behalf of the Pentagon since 2018. $83.3 million has already been allotted for this venture.
The Barracuda destroys itself together with the detected mine, however it’s nonetheless a fairly efficient instrument as a result of the AN/AQS-20C system may be very compact and doesn’t require a big crew of specialists.
Small Barracuda’s dimensions permit it to be launched even from smaller army boats. Sooner or later, the AN/AQS-20C system might be built-in with plane in order that the presence of ships within the probably mined space will not be vital in any respect.
The Barracuda will not be going to be rushed into service simply but. 2 years in the past it was revealed that the robotic system carried out some exams off the coast of Rhode Island and excelled in them, however it nonetheless wants some work . Raytheon says the event of the Barracuda could possibly be accomplished by 2026.
At the moment this robotic in all probability would be the most superior and, hopefully, essentially the most dependable method to clear coasts from probably harmful underwater mines.
Written by Povilas M.
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