The success of the first torpedo launch test is a major milestone, confirming the Unmanned Surface Vessel’s capability to incorporate weapons that counter submarines, in addition to its unique submarine and mine detection capabilities.
Elbit Systems completed recently a trial test torpedo launch from its Seagull multi-mission, autonomous Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) system. The trial, performed out of Israel's Haifa port, demonstrated the capability of Seagull to install and launch light weight torpedoes, adding to the advanced capabilities of the USV, which is designed to carry out unmanned maritime missions, such as protection of critical sea areas and high-value assets against submarines and sea mine threats. “The success of this test demonstrates Seagull’s modular mission system capability, enabling a highly effective Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) configuration of high performance dipping sonar using two single tube torpedoes,” said Ofer Ben-Dov, Vice President Naval Systems Business Line at Elbit Systems' ISTAR Division. “The test highlighted Seagull’s unique capacity to detect and engage submarines, in addition to its ability to detect and destroy sea mines – all using the same multi-mission USV system in modular configurations. This new and important capability has, to date, only been available to navies through manned vehicles.” Introduced earlier this year, Seagull is a 12-meter long multi-mission USV system equipped with one or two vessels that can be operated and controlled in concert from manned ships or from the shore. Seagull provides multi- mission capabilities and can be employed for ASW, MCM, EW, maritime security and other related missions, leveraging modular mission system installation and offering a high level of autonomy. In its full configuration the advanced USV system delivers unmanned end-to- end mine hunting operation capability, taking the man out of the minefield. It features inherent C4I capabilities for enhanced Situation Awareness (SA) and has a large fuel capacity that allows it to remain at sea for several days.