Mission Systems technology adopted for mine countermeasure drone

Australian technology from Mission Systems Pty Ltd could be integrated into a new fleet of mine countermeasure (MCM) drones that are to be depolyed from the next generation of mine sweeping ships being developed for the Royal Australian Navy.

French company Exail and Mission Systems have entered into a technological partnership in the MCM field to implement the Australian technology in Exail’s MCM solutions, including within the framework of the SEA 1905 Mine Countermeasures Program.

Australia’s four Huon class minehunter coastal (MHC) ships will be replaced from the mid-2020s onwards in a A$1 billion programme, with the new vessels to be based on the Arafura class offshore patrol vessels (pictured) now being built in Adelaide and Perth.

The collaboration will centre around two themes – sonar simulation and machine learning.

Exail teams have already started to integrate Mission Systems technology in its maritime drone mission management software UMISOFT in its DM (Data Management) module.

Co-director of Mission Systems David Battle said: “The Mission Systems team are very excited to be working with Exail.

“We look forward to bringing our unique real-time mission simulation and accelerated machine learning technologies to support the development of Exail’s naval drones.

“…We are especially excited about the prospect of supplying advanced technologies to the Australian Navy and allied navies around the world.”

Exail is currently presenting its drones incorporating Mission Systems technology at the EURONAVAL defence expo in Paris, France.

Mission Systems is one of a number of Australian partners that Exail is collaborating with – it has recently established technological partnerships with UGL, Acacia Systems, Solutions from Silicon (SfS) and Total Marine Technology (TMT).

Picture: Defence/The future HMAS Arafura offshore patrol vessel is launched at Osborne naval dockyard, Adelaide