Developed by the technology company Thales, the AI-equipped drone will assist the Royal Navy in mine countermeasure missions.
The Royal Navy has received its first AI-powered mine countermeasure drone, developed by Thales. The project began in 2019 in collaboration with France.
The equipment was developed under the Franco-British Maritime Mine Countermeasures (MMCM) program.
According to the manufacturer, the drone is equipped with a cyberattack-resistant system and features AI (artificial intelligence) algorithms to enhance efficiency.
The unmanned vehicles are approximately 12 meters long and 2.2 meters in diameter, weighing up to 5 tons, with an autonomy of 5 days, and the ability to add extra batteries.
“This system represents a technological breakthrough in mine countermeasure missions, drastically reducing the exposure risk for onboard personnel and contributing to the security of maritime routes,” Thales stated in a press release.
The Royal Navy expects to receive four more drones by the end of the year.
Photos: Thales Eloi Stichelbaut/Shaun Roster. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
