Israeli defense company Elbit Systems recently completed a trial test torpedo launch from its Seagull multi-mission, autonomous Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) system in Israel’s Haifa port.
The trial demonstrated the capability of Seagull to install and launch light weight torpedoes, adding to the capabilities of the USV, which is designed to carry out unmanned maritime missions, such as protection of critical sea areas and high-value assets against submarines and sea mine threats.
Introduced earlier this year, Seagull is a 12 meter long multi-mission USV system equipped with one or two vessels that can be operated and controlled in concert from manned ships or from the shore.
Seagull provides multimission capabilities and can be employed for ASW, MCM, EW, maritime security and other related missions.
“The success of this test demonstrates Seagull’s modular mission system capability, enabling a highly effective Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) configuration of high performance dipping sonar using two single tube torpedoes, ” said Ofer Ben-Dov , Vice President Naval Systems Business Line at Elbit Systems’ ISTAR Division.
In its full configuration the advanced USV system delivers unmanned end-to-end mine hunting operation capability, taking the man out of the minefield. It features C4I capabilities for enhanced Situation Awareness (SA) and has a large fuel capacity that allows it to remain at sea for several days.