A versatile submersible developed by US defence technology group Lockheed Martin provides the capabilities of a Multi Mission Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (MMAUV), while also being able to recharge its power supply en route to its destination.
The breakthrough submersible was deemed an important source of technological and strategic advantage for US navy and allied maritime operations, in the group’s announcement.
Of particular interest seems the extended operational endurance afforded in part by the use of a built-in “hydrogenator”, presumably some way of using hydrogen and oxygen (from the air or water) to generate electricity, and thereby recharge a battery. Limited battery life is a key constraint with conventional UUVs, requiring periodic visits to a docking station or suitably-equipped ship.
LampreyMMAUV can hitch a ride on a host surface vessel or submarine, use the hydrogenators to charge batteries and arrive at its destination in full mission-readiness, said the group. These could include intelligence collection, surveillance, reconnaisance, targeting, and deploying equipment to the seafloor.
The unit can attach itself to host vessels such as ships and submarines, without the latter’s requiring any special modifications for this purpose (a “plug-and play” capability, in the wording of the group).
Other innovations include an open architecture payload bay that adapts to whatever it needs to carry. Whether it be anti-submarine torpedoes or UAV launchers, the design “lets customers tailor the vehicle to any mission set”.
“The modern battlespace demands platforms that hide, adapt and dominate,” said Paul Lemmo, vice president and general manager of Sensors, Effectors & Mission Systems at Lockheed Martin. “LampreyMMAUV was internally funded, letting us iterate at lightning speed and hand the Navy a true multi mission weapon that detects, disrupts, decoys and engages on its own.”
To learn more about LampreyMMAUV visit https://lockheedmartin.com/mmauv
