Africa: US military tests autonomous maritime drone to combat piracy
Pirates in West African waters are difficult to apprehend. The military autonomous surface and underwater drone Triton is intended to help.
The Triton surface and underwater drone has a retractable fixed sail to take advantage of the wind when traveling above water.
(Image: Ocean Aero)
The U.S. Navy is testing the Triton autonomous underwater and surface vehicle (AUSV) drone in the waters of West Africa as part of the multinational Obangame Express naval exercise. It is intended to help African countries get to grips with the prevailing problem of piracy, illegal drug trafficking and other violations of the law. The focus of the operation is on the Gulf of Guinea. The exercise will run until May 17.
The Triton drone, which is developed and manufactured by the US defense contractor Ocean Aero based in Gulfport, Mississippi, is around 4.4 m long, 0.8 m wide and weighs 350 kg, as the company writes in a document (PDF). According to the document, it is the world's first and only surface and underwater drone capable of operating permanently underwater and on the water surface. The electrically powered Triton is equipped with solar cells on the surface of the hull and a retractable fixed sail, to which solar modules with a total output of 740 W are also attached.
The solar modules are intended to supply enough energy to charge the drone's 13.2 Wh battery to power the motors underwater. The electric drive can also be used above water. It is supported by a fixed sail, which can be folded out in overwater mode to propel the drone with the wind. Ocean Aero promises that the Triton can operate for five days underwater and more than 14 days above water. On the surface, it is said to achieve a maximum speed of 5 knots, around 9.3 km/h, and 2 knots underwater.
The Triton is equipped with technology that enables it to operate autonomously. This enables it to carry out military operations independently and autonomously. These include military reconnaissance and mine detection, as well as anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare and general data collection. For these missions, cargo compartments in the hull, keel and sails are available for a total payload of around 37.6 kg.
Tests with breakdowns
During the tests, the Triton, which will be launched from the expedition ship USS "Woody" Williams, will now prove that it is suitable for the respective mission scenarios. However, there have already been a few mishaps. For example, the hull of one of the drones deployed cracked, forcing it to be returned to the factory for repairs, writes the US magazine Stars and Stripes. There have also been problems when operating in estuaries. The prevailing currents there were stronger than the speed that the Triton can reach on the surface. As a result, the batteries ran out faster than expected.
However, the aim is to make the Triton drone ready for use against pirates and other criminals, primarily in the Gulf of Guinea.
(olb)