Robot vessels are used for dangerous mine-hunting work in the Gulf

Autonomous systems are taking on part of the search for sea mines, a task traditionally performed by specialist vessels with crews of about 80 sailors. Monitored from shore, the robots may require about 20 people working in shifts, reduce costs and be transported by air with containerised control centres. The technology is also attractive to Nato navies facing recruitment and retention challenges.

The BBC reports that the conflict in the Gulf is testing more capable US systems. In early September, Iranian forces recovered a US autonomous submarine made by Anduril from the Strait of Hormuz; the Pentagon said it was an older malfunctioning model with no classified equipment. Thales, the Royal Navy and France’s Marine Nationale have also developed an uncrewed surface vehicle that uses sonar, sensors and artificial intelligence to create 3D images of the seabed and identify objects resembling mines.