ECA Group AUV A27 trains alongside America's cup Groupama Team France

Friday, January 13 2017

Within the framework of the ESPADON R&D Programme, the French Defense Procurement & Technology Agency 's operators were trained to implement ECA Group A27-M AUV for Detection, Classification & Localization.

The ESPADON R&D programme, launched in 2009 by the French Defense Procurement & Technology Agency (DGA) aimed at evaluating how crews could be kept out of dangerous areas by deploying unmanned robotic systems for underwater minewarfare operations.

After the successful completion of this progamme in september, the final step consisted in the training of DGA Naval Systems team in implementing the Detection, Classification & Localization (DCL) A27-M Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). The steering training was done under the supervision of ECA Group team in Brest.

DGA Naval Systems division operators are now able to operate the A27-M Unmanned underwater vehicle and are going to carry out additional trials. It will enable them to better comprehend the use of this type of AUV, and procceed to future validations within the framework of the Franco-British MCMM Programme.

Beside usual encounters, such as dolphins, ECA Group's AUV A27-M, sailed alongside Groupama Team France, currently preparing next America's Cup in Lanvéoc.

Learn more about the ESPADON R&D programme

Learn more : ECA Group confirms important AUV order for FR/UK underwater Mine Counter-Measure programme

ECA Group AUV A27 DCL during Trial