Elbit Systems UK has announced that it completed a series of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) trials with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Delivered via Defence Science and Technology Laboratory's (DSTL) Progeny Framework, the trials explored how future ASW operations could be supported by autonomous systems.

“Elbit Systems has world leading technology to offer to the maritime and littoral environment,” says Martin Fausset, CEO of Elbit Systems UK.

“The Seagull USV has once again, demonstrated its superior capabilities underlining Elbit Systems UK’s competitive position to providing innovative and cost-effective solutions to the UK Armed Forces.”

Elbit Systems UK was one of just a few companies in the UK chosen to participate in the second phase of the project, which was a series of live at sea trials that took place off the UK coast with the Ministry of Defence in late October 2019.

For the trials, Elbit Systems UK used its multi-mission, multi-sensor Seagull USV, with sonar provided by L3 Harris. During the trials, the USV showcased its autonomous ASW utility to the UK MoD. Throughout the trial, the USV also utilized its ‘ASW Toolbox’ technology to show how the abilities of this system can offer a force multiplier for ASW operations.

Besides ASW missions, the Seagull USV can also perform missions such as Mine Counter Measures (MCM), Electronic Warfare (EW), Maritime Security (MS), Hydrography and others using the same vessels, mission control system and data links.

By deterring and threatening enemy submarines using an available asset with significantly lower risk, the USV’s ASW capability provides the navy with a tactical advantage. End-to-end mine hunting operations including detection, classification, localization, identification and neutralization of bottom, moored and drifting sea mines are possible thanks to Seagull’s MCM capability.

The Seagull can be deployed with the capability to operate from port or mother-ship. Two vessels can be controlled from the same Mission Control System (MCS) and both manned and unmanned modes of operation, with the unmanned operations featuring a high level of autonomy.

Seagull offers endurance of four days and mission sea-keeping of up to Sea-State 5.