Shephard: ECA Group unveils latest generation A18-M AUV for MCM operations
Published on Shephard, March 2018
The A18-M is designed for mine detection in water up to 300 metres depth. It can operate in close vicinity of smart mines without triggering them.
The A18-M can be deployed from small naval platforms and its embedded processing allows it to process sonar image raw data in real time and extract a list of contacts which are relayed back to the command center using an advanced communication networkto be reviewed by sonar operators onboard a mothership or onshore.
The AUV is able to detect hazards such as improvised explosive devices (IED) and pollutants, as well as to provide accurate maps of the seabed that allows the environment to be assessed with high fidelity.
The AUV A18-M integrates synthetic aperture sonar and has high area coverage rate of around two square kilometres per hour. This optimal configuration enables it to cover large areas of around 20-40 square kilometres, depending on transit distance, in short timescales with superior image quality and reduced risk to personnel.
Learn more: ECA Group unveils its new generation mid-size AUV A18-M for underwater mine warfare