New System Rounds Out AUV Fleet to 5 Vehicles
Hydroid, Inc., a subsidiary of Kongsberg Maritime and the leading manufacturer of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), announces that the Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD) has purchased one REMUS 600 system for mine countermeasure operations. The AUV will also be used for investigating and mapping sea floor dispersion of contaminants following last year's magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami. The new purchase brings the Japanese MOD AUV fleet to five vehicles.
"We are excited by the Japanese Ministry of Defense's growing use of Hydroid AUVs for detecting underwater mines and investigating the undersea aftermath of last year's natural disasters," said Christopher von Alt, president and co-founder of Hydroid. "The REMUS 600 is ideally suited for both these applications, as, when fully configured, its exceptional endurance allows it to operate underwater for long periods of time in varying depths of water."
The REMUS 600 AUV was specifically designed for operations requiring extended endurance, increased payload capacity and greater operating depth.
Earlier this year the Japanese MOD purchased four REMUS 100 systems for investigating and mapping seafloor dispersion of contaminants following the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The earthquake was followed by more than 500 aftershocks of magnitude 4.5 or greater, and the devastating tsunami produced 30-foot waves travelling at the speed of a jetliner. For an in-depth report about the earthquake and resulting tsunami, click here.
The REMUS 100 systems will also be used for mine countermeasure operations, which includes locating explosive devices and other undetonated ordnances as well as finding and classifying submerged objects.
Hydroid's REMUS AUVs are modular: They can be fitted with a variety of sensors and used to aid in hydrographic surveys, harbor security operations, debris field mapping, scientific sampling and mapping, as well as many basic and applied research programs. With more than 300 vehicles in the field, Kongsberg Maritime is currently the AUV market leader.
The order for the MOD purchase was submitted by SEA Corporation, Hydroid's representative in Japan.