Page 16 - ADT NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2022 Online Magazine

podded propulsors, and high-capacity batteries. A key philosophy
of NOMARS is “graceful degradation,” which allows individual equip-
ment to fail over time by having enough system-level redundancy
to meet full system requirements at speeds of at least 15 knots after
one year at sea. The major system components of the selected
design are modularized, so repairs can be conducted with equip-
ment typically found in yacht-yards worldwide. This maintenance
philosophy supports rapid turnaround, allowing the ships to spend
a majority of their lifetime at sea performing missions.

MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES

The development of large-sized, fully autonomous surface vehi-
cles such as Sea Hunter and Sea Hawk used by the US Navy is
© L3 Harris likely to generate huge opportunities for military unmanned surface
vehicle market vendors. Further, the USVs provide support to the
armed forces across various applications that include mine warfare,
testing activities before taking it to sea for a including mine detection and neutralization; surface warfare such
three-month demonstration event. Serco is as armed forces support; military deception, including communi-
working with Beier Integrated Systems LLC, cation signals deception, radar signals deception, acoustic signals
Caterpillar, DRS Naval Power Systems Inc., ICE deception, decoy countermeasures, military information support
FLOE LLC (dba Nichols Brothers Boat Builders), operations, etc.; anti-submarine warfare capabilities; and other
Metron Inc., Serco Inc. (div Maritime Engineering C4ISR capabilities.
Operations), Submergence Group LLC, and
Thrustmaster of Texas Inc. on the project. However, analysts pointed out that the limited range of USVs and
lack of control of signals & communication between USV and the
Defiant will be the first of its kind. The 210- controller when the USV goes beyond the line of sight or control can
metric ton MUSV-class ship aims to maximize lead to collision with naval vessels on the field. Further, as per the
performance, reliability, and maintenance current scenario of USV industry, the USVs are not suitable for ship-
efficiency while still carrying significant pay- to-ship combat operations due to the high capabilities of manned
load at tactically useful ranges. The goal is naval vessels that can dominate the USVs. As a result, such restricting
to achieve ultra-reliability objectives by inte- factors are leading to a lesser preference for USVs by armed forces
grating distributed hybrid power generation, for surface-to-surface combat operations.

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