Experts have no doubt: the importance of unmanned vehicles in military operations will grow with each subsequent year. And not just in the air and on land. besides in the naval domain. All NATO armies adapt to the requirements of the future, in which sea drones will play leading roles. How does the Polish Navy compare to them?
The submarine from Italy was abandoned to the sea straight from the German frigate. He conducted a reconnaissance of the key water tank, and the data he collected in a flash went to the U.S. military aircraft crew. Meanwhile, the drone completed its mission aboard the French destroyer. This is the description of the time on the authoritative NATO website. Sounds like the tune of the future? Maybe. But that's what the Alliance is up to. Experts have no doubt: the function of unmanned vehicles will increase with each year. And not just in the air and on land. besides in the naval domain.
Laboratory on the ocean
In order to realize the dynamics of the processes there, it is adequate to look at the “REPMUS” exercises, which have been taking place in Portugal for respective years. The number of participants this year's edition reached 2 thousand. Among them were representatives of NATO states, but partners from Japan, Australia, South Korea and Ukraine were besides present.
The sailors had the chance to meet with scientists and experts from arms companies. “The main intent of the exercise is to test and make advanced marine unmanned systems in a common global environment,” explains Lt. David Morgado, Portuguese Navy press spokesman, 1 of the co-organisers of the project. Traditionally, Poles went to “REPMUS” – sailors from the 13th Trailers Squadron, who had an autonomous submarine Gavia. These devices are equipped with modern Kormoran II kind mine destroyers. They service to search for seamines.
– We were practicing in the Atlantic, in the vicinity of Sesimbra, informs Mar. Marcin Kleparski, who commanded the Polish team. Missions began in the morning, and gavia set out to go to the ocean to comb the waters 300 by 500 m. Target: to track the training mines that the organizers set up. – The vehicle operated at depths of 40 m. He recorded a image of the seabed, which we later analysed in detail, explains Lt. Mar. Kleparski. Sailors from the recording caught alleged mine-like contacts, that is, objects with characteristics resembling mines. Then Gavia one more time approached them from different sides so that sailors could sow random indications. “We sent a study from our activities to the task force’s command,” noted Mr Kleparski. It besides determined who and how will carry out the final recognition of the objects on the list. In another words, he will find whether the object lying on the bottom is actually a mine or something very akin to it.
16 teams from different countries operated in Sesimbra. Everyone had to check their area. erstwhile he did the job, he went on. “REPMUS” is simply a fantastic chance to cooperate and share cognition gathered over the years,” says Lt. Michał Dziugan, commander of the 13th Trailers Division. “Many countries usage Gavia, but their experiences are completely different,” he adds. The Portuguese, for example, carry out regular mine missions in the Atlantic, where hydrological conditions are different from those in the Baltic. Aquenes disagree in salinity, sea currents, the way sound is distributed. In the vehicle itself, ballast must be distributed differently before leaving for the water. The Danish, in turn, equipped the gava with the STM (Sonar Training Module) module, which produces noises akin to those generated by the submarine. This enables the vehicle to be utilized to train operators of equipment for the detection of specified units. another countries usage gavia to map seabeds with advanced resolution. “This goes beyond the scope of the tasks assigned to the anti-mine forces, but it explains the scale of the possibilities of this kind of vehicle,” said Mr Dziugan.
During the exercise, the Polish gavia “REPMUS” went to the ocean to search the waters 300 by 500 m.
It is besides crucial to have direct contact with representatives of technological and arms centres. – Before starting the exercise, participants declare what they would like to test, see what tactical experiments they intend to carry out. They frequently cooperate with providers of individual strategy components to optimise the strategy as a whole. In this way, we have already worked with the Icelandic company Teledyne, i.e. maker of Gavia, the Kraken company – supplier of sonars with synthetic aperture, which we use, with Enamor (Polish maker of electronics, navigation and ship automation systems, especially Teledyne's commercial partner) or Gdańsk University of Technology, which has specialists in the field of underwater communications and communication protocols – the commander of the 13th Tralowers Division states. It is during 1 of the editions of the “REPMUS” exercise Poles had the chance to look at the work equipped with multi-band echoprobe of the T20 module, which can be utilized not only to search for mines, but besides to inspect underwater cables and pipelines. “We tried to buy it at the time, but we wanted to measure whether it was worth it,” Mr Dziugan recalls. Finally, 2 Polish gavies were equipped with T20 modules last year.
Meanwhile, during the exercise “REPMUS” not only experts from mine fighting are trained. Their missions are besides carried out by operators of equipment designed to search for submarines, combat threats on the sea surface and identify key waters. The drones operate on the ocean, but besides in airspace above it. And in each of these segments fresh solutions are tested. An example? This year, close the peninsula Tróia, the Portuguese Navy launched gavia straight from a submerged Tridente-type submarine. And that's not over. According to the press office of the local naval forces, an autonomous submarine Trator do Mar was presented on the occasion of “REPMUS 2024”. The device can effectively track and track a submarine utilizing a towed sonar, among others. “Another breakthrough was the tests of the artificial autonomous island, which plays the function of a base for underwater vehicles,” explains Mr. Morgado. A year earlier, Connect Robotics' unmanned aircraft launched off the coast, utilizing a precise landing system, sat on 1 of the ships, providing rescue kits on board. Then they were moved back to land.
It's an example of large importance. due to the fact that it's not just about putting more and more modern vehicles into service. The intent of the North Atlantic Alliance is primarily to make solutions that, if necessary, would let them to be tied together into an efficient network.
War pulse
– NATO no longer thinks only in terms of individual vehicles. Now the key issue is the usage of multiple platforms at the same time – explains Mr Dziugan. In order to accomplish this, a certain standardization is needed, and above all, solutions enabling fast transmission of data between many operators and platforms and command centres, in almost real time. And that's what the Alliance is trying to convince producers. – presently we inactive operate so that we will work 1 vehicle, for example a gavia, which is expected to cross a peculiar way and registry mino-like objects. After classification, a further mission is required to identify these contacts classified as mine-like. The next step is destruction. In summary, each phase is 1 vehicle. Meanwhile, we can shortly look forward to the minute that under water at the same time will operate respective platforms with the task of searching for mines. After detecting anything, vehicles will adapt their mission profiles, and 1 of them, acting as superior to the others, will automatically delegate to them further tasks, specified as identifying the object," he adds. This is not just about mine fighting.
During the 2018 NATO Summit in Brussels, defence ministers of 13 states, including Poland, joined the NATO MUSI (Maritime Unmanned strategy Initiative) initiative. They declared that they would work together to make unmanned systems to aid strengthen collective safety in the maritime domain. 5 more countries joined the initiative soon, while a fewer years later MUSI became JCGMUS (Joint Capability Group for Maritime Unmanned Systems). It is this cell that oversees the implementation of the Natatian Digital Ocean project. – The program was launched in 2023. Its aim is to rise NATO's maritime situation by coordinating actions at associate State and Alliance level. We want to conduct surveillance with various tools – from autonomous vehicles that operate under the surface, through water and air systems to satellites – as calculated by Simone de Manso from the North Atlantic Alliance headquarters. The circumstantial experimental ground is to be the "REPMUS" exercise.
But NATO's not the only 1 going this way. For the first time this year, the European Defence Agency (EDA) was involved. She had previously implemented a task aimed at exploring the anticipation of joint operation of various platforms while protecting key shipping routes. “Ocean 2020 has active 15 European countries and 43 different types of institutions,” says Lionel Sola, head of the communication team. The project's finale was the August 2021 exercises. 3 unmanned aircraft, 4 submarines and 5 autonomous submarines operated together on the Swedish coast for respective days. They were accompanied by respective ships, a investigation vessel from Germany and a civilian aircraft equipped with the latest generation radar. Participants utilized the information obtained from the COSMO SkyMed satellite, and the data collected by them went to the EUMOC (Maritime Operation Center), a prototype European operations centre. Poland besides participated in the project. Specialists from the Gdynia investigation and improvement Centre of the Marine Technology Centre worked on communication solutions, while during the final exercises in the Baltic, the mine destroyer ORP "Cchaika" was operating today. “At the end of the project, the consortium liable for its implementation presented respective proposals concerning further research,” Sola admits.
16 teams from different countries operated in the REPMUS exercise. Everyone had to check their area.
Work on the improvement of unmanned marine systems is gaining momentum, and additional Neutralization of dangerous ship crew finds can be done utilizing vehicles of Ukwiał and Foolishness. The outbreak of a full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine became a catalyst. After the Russian invasion, tension increased in Europe – besides in the Baltic Sea or the North Sea. The Kremlin is repeatedly provoked, and there have been at least a fewer incidents aimed at critical infrastructure. It is adequate to replace the incomplete harm to the Balticconnector gas pipeline and the telecommunications cable between Finland and Estonia, as well as the unidentified drones circulating over Norwegian drilling platforms.
Maintaining control of delicate waters requires expanding resources. Especially since the area of interest of both NATO and its possible opponents is constantly growing. In fresh years, the rivalry between the powers in the Arctic region has intensified. This is related to the melting glacier and easier access to natural resources and northern transport routes than before.
The war in Ukraine besides showed that even comparatively inexpensive and easy to produce drones can be an highly effective weapon against a much stronger opponent. Built on the basis of fast motorboats, the unmanned Ukrainians, who fondly call Sea Baby, damaged the Crimean Bridge, the Russian Bujan-M-type rocket corvette, and the patrolman “Pavel Dierzawin” within a fewer months. Children were initially able to carry an explosive of 800 kg and operate at a distance of 800 km, while the cost of building 1 somewhat exceeded $200,000. In the newer version, the scope of drones increased to a 1000 kilometres, and the burden capacity to a tonne. Not much of what the Reuters said recently, any of the machines were equipped with... Grad rocket launchers.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian constructors do not quit their efforts to devise always more technologically advanced devices. For any time now the military has been utilizing the unmanned Magur, which soldiers praise for besides much maneuverability. In the summer, the Stalker 5.0 prototype was presented in Odessa, equipped with Starlink compatible devices. “The usage by Ukraine of maritime autonomous systems in the Black Sea has greatly contributed to breaking the blockade that the Black Sea Fleet was trying to apply against this country”, says kmdr Dr hab. Rafał Miętkiewicz from the Naval Academy in Gdynia.
From Hugin to Typanka
Battle drones are not the thought of Ukraine. planet tycoons have been working very intensively on specified solutions for a long time. The U.S. Navy is testing, for example, Orca's submarine vehicle, which may yet be armed with torpedoes or rockets. In turn, Turkish companies in fresh years have presented 2 water impact drones – Ulaq equipped with guided missiles – and a kamikaze vehicle called Albatros-S. 1 of the concepts considered even by Americans assumes utilizing a swarm of drones at sea to various tasks—from conducting reconnaissance to hitting enemy units.
Development directions for unmanned workers are truly multifold. – The main, of course, in addition to the anti-mineal activities, concern the search and fight of submarines and the protection of troops – says Dr. Miętkiewicz. – Concepts are besides developed in which autonomous systems are to execute rescue and rescue tasks, evacuation, hydrographic and logistics. It is inactive besides early for robots to appear in a decade, but sea-going conflict platforms will be systematically included in the conflict teams," he adds. Not long ago, air drones, which are cheaper than helicopters, can be permanently accommodated on board large ships, and can fulfil at least part of their tasks.
Poland is besides expanding its possible for sea-manners. The Navy of the Republic of Poland has primarily submarines designed for mine fighting. Among them are both full autonomous devices (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle – AUV) and connected to the ship's deck via kablo-line or fibre optic (Remotely Operated Vehicle – ROV). Most of them are equipped with Kormoran II kind mine destroyers. The list is long and includes vehicles of recognized global manufacturers and home constructions.
Vehicles assigned to anti-mine forces are versatile devices. any Hugins, for example, thanks to tube Tracking software, can be utilized to monitor underwater critical infrastructure.
Next to Gavia, mentioned earlier, Polish sailors, for example, usage Hugo – a vehicle of the Norwegian company Kongsberg, which is utilized to search for, classify and identify, and akin objects, resting on the bottom or at sea tone. In the native version, it has 3 sensors: side reflection sonar, multi-beam echosond and camera. It moves on its own, along a way set by the operator, and can go to a depth of up to a 1000 metres (although there are no specified ones on the Baltic). The Navy besides has Double Eagle Mk III vehicles (on board a prototype Kormorana) and Double Eagle Mk II Sarov (on serial ships), constructed by Swedish Saab company. They can function both as AUV and ROV devices, and depending on the configuration they are utilized to search and combat mines. Neutralization of the dangerous find of the crew of ships can besides be done with the usage of vehicles of Ukwiał and Silly, which was created thanks to the invention of specialists from Gdańsk University of Technology. The first is utilized to plant explosives, the second itself explodes close the target. respective trawlers have besides been equipped with specified vehicles recently.
There are more examples, of course, but it is worth noting another thing – vehicles assigned to mine forces are versatile devices. any Hugins, for example, thanks to tube Tracking software, can be utilized to monitor underwater critical infrastructure. The Navy besides has unmanned submarines that work for the MW Hydrographic Office. They aid to measurement the seabed. The latest construction here is obtained in late 2021 autonomous DriX.
Soon, the number of unmanned people in Polish naval forces will increase even more – for example, due to the fact that 3 fresh cormorans II will enter the line. But not just due to it. The Navy is trying to get gavia, which will not be assigned straight to the mentioned mine destroyers. The full number of specified devices is expected to scope several. In Gdynia, even the world's second service center for vehicles produced by Teledyne was established.
The Polish Navy has Double Eagle Mk III vehicles (on board a prototype Kormorana) constructed by Swedish company Saab.
This, of course, is not the end. According to the Inspectorate of MW, the Navy, as part of the operational programme ‘Fightshooting at Sea 2013–2022/2030’, continues to work on obtaining respective unmanned systems. Among these were the water-based mine demolition vehicle (Kianka) and the automated port and territorial protection system, including floating drones and electronic surveillance devices (Oyster). Unmanned BSP aircraft (Albatros 2) are besides added, and it is possible that drones of both short, average and long scope will be obtained for the purposes of the Polish navy. The first can operate even from the ship’s deck due to its ability to take off vertically. "In terms of the usage of combat systems in the assessment of the MW, they will not replace their weapons in the form of rockets or torpedoes on ships and aircraft, but their capabilities are being analysed", acknowledged the MW Inspectorate. Combat drones, for example, could be utilized as an effector for the oyster system. In another words, specified a vehicle would be sent to units targeted by electronic surveillance systems.
Looking to the Future
It is not yet known whether all these projects will be implemented and, if so, erstwhile exactly. However, the Polish navy is trying to enter trends in the world. And it helps to participate in many global initiatives and projects carried out both under the aegis of NATO and EDA. – Either way, unmanned systems will arrive. They are a good consequence to the challenges of our times, including human resources shortages, which the armies of the full planet are struggling with, but more importantly, sending them to carry out certain tasks, to a lesser degree endangering the lives of our soldiers or sailors, according to Mr Dziugan.
Of course, expanding automation raises many questions and ethical doubts. Consider, for example, how much to let vehicles that will usage artificial intelligence in the close future. For example, can the device completely decide whether to plant or launch an explosive?
Either way, advancement in the field of unmanned workers seems unstoppable. The future belongs to drones.
