Working with SubSea Craft, a UK-based small to medium enterprise, the Leonardo Open Digital Platform was embedded into the company’s MARS USV and proven in a series of operationally representative trials. The technology demonstrations, held earlier this year in Portsmouth, were organised by the UK Ministry of Defence under the Atlantic Bastion programme with the aim of advancing the Royal Navy’s ambitions of creating an advanced hybrid naval force.
During both synthetic and real-world scenarios, the USV was tasked with conducting Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) missions. Using autonomous decision support techniques, the USV was able to harness all available systems within its network so that, should a sensor detect a potential threat – such as a submarine or Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (UUV) – it could task the most effective or precise sensor to investigate further. The whole process can occur rapidly without any human interaction, reducing the cognitive burden on the operator while adding additional layers of decision support to commanders.
The Open Digital Platform and architecture capabilities are part of Leonardo’s ‘Information Advantage’ offering, harnessing the wealth of data already created and captured by systems. By exploiting this data by systems, sensors and effectors already in operational use, operators can more rapidly interpret information and have more time to react to incoming threats. Similarly, commanders will have a more complete picture of where their platforms and people are across all domains, enabling them to make better-informed decisions.
Callum White, Head of Information Advantage Sales, Leonardo, said: “The sub-sea domain is a vital, unseen environment critical to our nation’s security and prosperity. Around 99% of global internet traffic goes through undersea cables, and we rely on gas and oil pipelines to provide essential energy supplies to the UK.
“It has been a pleasure to partner with SubSea Craft to demonstrate to the Royal Navy how the Open Digital Platform can reliably network a range of new and existing sensors to detect, track and neutralise sub-surface vessels that pose a threat to the UK’s critical national infrastructure.”
Andrew Sturman, Commercial Director at SubSea Craft, said: “We were pleased to work with Leonardo to support the Royal Navy on this trial. This demonstration showcased MARS as a multi-role, modular platform capable of integration with the market leading technologies such as Leonardo’s. Collaborations across the defence industry like this one are critical to supporting the UK and its allies.”